Many hard up aristocrats have been forced by death duties etc to sell family paintings and precious objects to keep a roof over their head. A similar situation pertains in the UK – we have run out of money but remain asset rich. What about killing two birds with one stone?

We own the Elgin Marbles. Greece wants them back. Everything has a price (even though the marbles are priceless)

Can we not agree to sell some of the ‘family silver’ in this case, transferring ownership of the sculptures to the Greek state for enough money to give the nurses a large pay rise.