Boris Johnson rules out return of Parthenon marbles to Greece

Prime minister says sculptures taken by Lord Elgin would remain in Britain as they had been legally acquired

Boris Johnson has used his first interview with a European newspaper since becoming the UK's prime minister to issue a point-blank rejection of the Parthenon marbles being returned to Greece.

Johnson insisted the sculptures, removed from Greece by Lord Elgin in circumstances that have since spurred one of the world's most famous cultural rows, would remain in Britain because they had been legally acquired.