London
has become a hub for global Saudi public relations and media
influence campaigns, with British firms earning millions of pounds
from efforts to improve the image of the kingdom and its regional
allies in recent years, a Guardian investigation has found.
The
reputation of Saudi Arabia, always controversial due to its record on
human rights and involvement in the ongoing Yemeni war, has taken a
battering in the past fortnight following the apparent murder of
Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The
investigation into how London has become a focus of lobbying efforts
in recent years to burnish the country’s image reveals:
Major
PR agency Freud’s, which has worked with Saudi Arabia, is now
distancing itself from the kingdom.
There
are fresh concerns over the Independent’s decision to establish a
partnership with a Saudi publisher with close links to the Saudi
government.
The
London office of online publisher Vice has been working on a series
of films to promote Saudi Arabia.
A
Saudi publishing company that is signing partnerships with western
media firms has donated to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
in return for his advice to the country.
A
company largely staffed by former employees of the collapsed PR firm
Bell Pottinger has advised the Saudi state on communications
strategy.
Although
some media companies have longstanding relationships with the
country, many advertising and PR groups rushed into the kingdom
during the rise to power of Mohammed bin Salman, who became crown
prince in June 2017. His recent attempts to improve the country’s
overseas image have been undermined by Khashoggi’s disappearance.
They
include London PR company Consulum, largely staffed by former
employees of Bell Pottinger, which has worked on communications
programmes with the Saudi Arabian government. Partners at the firm
include Ryan Coetzee, a former Nick Clegg adviser who was chief
strategist for the remain campaign in the EU referendum. A
spokesperson for the company said they were unable to comment on the
current status of the work.
Freud’s,
the company founded by Matthew Freud, provided PR support for the
kingdom’s Vision 2030 relaunch under Bin Salman during 2016. A
spokesman said this week it was not currently working for the
government of Saudi Arabia.
According
to sources, CT Group, a company founded by Conservative election
strategist Lynton Crosby, has promoted articles by Qatari opposition
leader Khalid Al-Hail to British publications.
Saudi
Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut diplomatic and
trade ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of supporting
terrorism and being too close to Riyadh’s arch rival, Iran –
charges Doha denies.
CT Group
did not respond to multiple requests for comment on whether it worked
for Hail and whether it had any contracts with Saudi Arabia or its
regional allies.
Full
report:
Comments
Post a Comment