Greece to step up Parthenon marbles pressure amid signs tide is turning

The homecoming to the Acropolis Museum of a fragment of sculpture from Italy offers ‘a blueprint’ for other countries, the Greek PM has said. Photograph: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP

Greece has vowed to intensify its campaign for the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures amid “optimistic” signs that British public opinion has shifted markedly in favour of returning the prized “Elgin” marbles to Athens.

The Greek government said it would step up pressure for the fifth-century BC antiquities to be enjoyed in their entirety, within view of the Acropolis, after receiving support from an unexpected quarter of the British establishment.