DR CYNTHIA MCVEY, of Glasgow Caledonian University’s psychology department, said: “When anyone is found publicly wanting through their own actions, the tendency is to use any convenient excuse to deflect attention.

“This behaviour can be intensified if, for example, the individual believes himself or herself to be very unpopular with hundreds of thousands of people.

“Any possible alternative argument can be used as a response to criticism, however implausible it may sound.”