Parthenon Sculptures Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Lord Sahota
Main Page: Lord Sahota (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Sahota's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(3 days, 12 hours ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I assure the noble Lord, not least because of his role in ensuring that we were able to bring the Bayeaux Tapestry to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years, that there is no intention to keep the Bayeux Tapestry in this country. It would be over my dead body.
Lord Sahota (Lab)
My Lords, I wish all noble Lords a happy Diwali, which is at the weekend. When Britain annexed the Sikh Empire in 1849, the koh-i-noor diamond was taken from its young maharaja, Duleep Singh—he was only 10 years old—and subsequently presented to Queen Victoria. Many Sikhs have long maintained that the diamond was taken under duress and rightfully belongs to their heritage. Will the Government consider returning the koh-i-noor diamond to the Sikh community as this was an act of historical injustice?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I thank my noble friend for raising this issue, and I share his best wishes to everyone celebrating Diwali. I recognise the historical significance for the Sikh community. The diamond has a contested history. However, it remains the UK Government’s long-standing position that the koh-i-noor diamond should remain in the UK.