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 » Stars in battle to keep national treasures in UK   » Tory rent rise from £5k to £150k may force sell off

- NIGEL NELSON

SOME of our greatest historical treasures could be sold to foreign buyers – because of Tory greed.

A collection including 130,000 rare books, priceless paintings of England’s kings and queens, original copies of the Magna Carta and Queen Elizabeth I’s personal seal are among items which could go under the hammer.

It is all because Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick’s ministry has hiked the Society of Antiquaries research library’s annual rent from £4,800 to £150,000 in the last eight years.

The organisation, founded nearly 300 years ago as an educational charity, may now be forced out of its London home, putting its future at risk.