Greece and Britain have a very deep history of friendship and co-operation, and the Greek government is extremely surprised by this decision. Earlier today, No 10 today said Mr Sunak would not support any changes to the law that prevents the marbles from being permanently returned to Greece, and suggested he would not be in favour of any loan arrangement. And that's the real danger of the internet - it's incredibly hard to get every image [taken] down... and it can just be devastating for people's lives." This news comes after he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the Elgin Marbles (also known as the Parthenon Sculptures) should be returned.

The prime minister was looking forward to discussing a range of topics of mutual interest including the Israel/Gaza conflict, Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, climate change, as well as common challenges such as migration, and of course the Parthenon Sculptures." Mr Mitsotakis is "disappointed" their scheduled meeting has been "cancelled" at the "11th hour", the spokesman said. The plan for a temporary loan is being pushed by George Osborne, the chairman of the British Museum and former Tory chancellor. Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was due to meet Rishi Sunak in London on Tuesday morning, but No 10 cancelled on Monday evening, saying their would send the deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, in Rishi Sunak’s place. But of the meeting with Mr Sunak, the Greek leader's spokesman said: "The prime minister is disappointed that Prime Minister Sunak cancelled their bilateral meeting at the 11th hour today.Rishi Sunak also became embroiled in a diplomatic row, cancelling a meeting with the Greek prime minister, scheduled for Tuesday, seemingly due to his counterpart's publicly stated desire to talk about returning the Elgin marbles to Greece; On our panel this evening is the chair of the women and equalities committee Caroline Nokeswho says it is "scary" just how commonplace this problem is.

Rishi Sunak has cancelled a meeting with Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis scheduled for Tuesday, a spokesman for the Greek leader has said. That was echoed by the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, who told the inquiry that he never once was invited to a COBRA meeting; Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham adds: "This one's on men, lads, boys - what the hell are you doing? A senior Labour source told our political editor Beth Rigbythat the PM's decision was "counterproductive" and "pathetic"; The Financial Times has reported that Sir Keir, who represents the Holborn and St Pancras constituency - home to the British Museum - was due to tell Mr Mitsotakis that Labour will not change the law regarding the marbles.

Toys

Ms Nokes adds that the government recently-passed Online Safety Act is "really welcome", but she adds that more has to be done, particularly in schools, to educate young people "about the risks they are taking". It was also announced this afternoon that consultants in England have reached a deal with the government which could potentially end strikes; The government attempted to stem a Tory party row over the very high level of legal migration today with Home Secretary James Cleverly, flanked by his ministers, telling MPs that numbers are "far too high" and pledging to bring forward plans in the coming weeks to bring them down; If you do this, if you behave in this way, you are literally destroying the mental health of the person you are doing this to, to such a point where you just don't know where that will go. One senior Tory said that Mr Osborne was drawing up a "sordid deal" and makes his position "untenable", adding: "He should go."

Elsewhere, the COVID inquiry took more oral evidence today, hearing first from the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, who said "lives could have been saved" if the Greater London Authority had been invited to COBRA meetings at the start of the pandemic;Mr Osborne, the British Museum chairman, has previously said he is exploring ways for the Marbles to be displayed in Greece, possibly involving a loan deal in which part of the sculptures would be sent to Athens. The 1963 British Museum Act prevents the institution giving away objects from its collection except in very limited circumstances.