Is British Museum’s stance shifting on Parthenon marbles return?

A section of the Parthenon Marbles in the British Museum in London. The museum’s deputy director this week called for a new ‘positive partnership’ with Greece over the artefacts. Photograph: Matthew Fearn/PA

“Stolen goods”; “Looted by the Brits”; “Did you steal this like the Parthenon marbles?”

A glance at the social media channels of the British Museum underlines why, when it comes to the long-disputed Acropolis sculptures, it is so eager to “change the temperature of the debate”.