Qatar pays off London taxis to drive its propaganda push

In a profession that prides itself on negotiating its way out of tight spots, the drivers of London’s black cabs should be able to spot diplomatic deception a mile off.

But some of their number have fallen into a trap set by Qatar last week as it sought to take the regional crisis to a new stage.

In a bizarre twist to Qatar’s propaganda battle, it has taken its dispute with its regional neighbours to the streets of London.

A report on Al Jazeera Arabic – which the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain have insisted Doha shuts down because of its support for extremists – said that black-cab drivers were backing Qatar in the dispute .

Chassis advertisements have become increasingly popular as a revenue earner for drivers of the estimated 22,500 black cabs in London, fetching about £2,500 a year.

The cab drivers are self-employed and can decide whether or not to display advertisements.

Qatari media have also featured photos of a line of five black cabs and a van, all carrying Qatar’s message, on Edgware Road, a major thoroughfare in central London, which is popular with Middle East residents.

Social media users have hit back with photos of taxis carrying ads including one for a Saudi football match, and Etihad and Emirates airlines.

Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority said it had no rules against political messages on public transport as long as they were not “misleading, harmful, offensive or irresponsible”.

Spokesman Matt Wilson said there had been no complaints about the Qatari message, although the regulator had earlier investigated tourism advertising campaigns linked to Israel and Cyprus, which featured destinations that were in internationally disputed territories.

It was not clear who had paid for the anti-boycott messaging on the London taxis. The Qatari embassy did not respond to questions and the agency that placed the adverts declined to comment.

Qatar has used taxis to promote the country and its tourism before. A campaign in 2015 showed a London cabs parked or driving through famous tourist destinations in the UK capital.

Another campaign said that drivers had been “briefed on Qatar” and 400,000 branded receipts were printed promoting the Gulf country.

The head of a taxi company, who declined to be identified, said he preferred the cabs he used to have no adverts on them at all.

“We do a lot of wedding work,” he said. “People don’t want them.”

The Qatari embassy did not respond to questions and the agency that placed the adverts declined to comment