Paul McKeigue

Paul McKeigue is professor of genetic epidemiology and statistical genetics at the University of Edinburgh.[1][2]

Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media
Main article: Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media

McKeigue is a member of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media (SPM). The SPM states that the group was established to "facilitate research into the areas of organised persuasive communication (including propaganda and information operations) and media coverage, with respect to the 2011-present conflict in Syria including related topics".[3] The first publication of the SPM, titled Doubts about "Novichoks", questioned whether Russia's secret nerve agent programme ever existed.[4]

Other members of the SPM include political scientist Tim Hayward, blogger Vanessa Beeley, former academic Piers Robinson, lecturer in International Relations Tara McCormack, and sociologist David Miller.[5][3]

The SPM states that the 2018 Douma chemical attack was faked by the White Helmets civil defence organisation.[6] In early 2018, The Times newspaper ran a series of reports on Hayward and the SPM, in which it said the group spreads "disinformation" in support of the government of Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian Civil War and "conspiracy theories promoted by Russia".[4][5][7] In response, the Group said that its members have a shared interest in "investigating the 'information operations' (...) associated with the Syrian conflict"[8] and stressed that "the Working Group does not take any position for or against the Syrian government."[8]

References
  1. https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/paul-mckeigue
  2. http://www.scot-ship.ac.uk/prof-paul-mckeigue.html
  3. "About". Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  4. Georgie Keate, Dominic Kennedy, Krystina Shveda, Deborah Haynes (2018-04-14). "Apologists for Assad working in British universities". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-11-22.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  5. Blanchard, Georgie; Keate, Sam (28 May 2020). "To say Douma attack was staged is to enter an Orwellian world". The Times. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  6. "Mysterious death of White Helmets co-founder spotlights toxic propaganda". PBS NewsHour. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  7. Webster, Ben (2018-04-16). "Academics accused of speaking for Assad condemn Syria raids". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
  8. "Working Group Response to Smears". Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2020-11-22.


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