The British Museum is closed today after staff striked in protest over planned job cuts of 15 per cent.

Over the last 15 years, the museum's grant has been cut by 15 per cent in real terms, while being badly affected both by the foot and mouth outbreak and the attacks of September 11 in New York and Washington.

It is estimated that an extra £6 million per year from central government is needed for the attraction to break even.

Forum Response: FDA

Jonathan Baume, general secretary of the FDA, told ePolitix.com: "Eye-catching projects such as the Great Court have captured the public's imagination, but the museum has not being given the resources to maintain the wider public access and education projects they have been encouraged to set up.

"FDA members are at the sharp end of implementing the cut backs and they are well aware of the detrimental impact on scholarship, research and collections.

"The FDA, with the other unions, have been and will continue to press the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, for increased funding across the sector so that these swingeing cuts in staff and service to the public can be avoided at the British Museum and elsewhere in the future."