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Hasbara In The UK
PR firm 'planted story' about Iran funding Palestine Action in media, report says
Head of CMS Strategic, which works for Israeli arms firm Elbit Systems, was allegedly heard by witness saying she placed story in The Times before group's proscription
A protester is taken away by police officers at a demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action, calling for the recently imposed ban to be lifted, in central London, 4 October 2025(AFP)
By
Katherine Hearst
Published date: 3 November 2025 15:59 GMT | Last update: 23 hours 48 mins ago
The head of a
British PR consultancy which works for the
Israeli arms company Elbit Systems admitted to placing a story in the UK press claiming that
Iran was funding proscribed direct action group Palestine Action, a "trusted witness" told Private Eye.
According to the magazine, the witness reported that they heard Georgia Pickering, who heads CMS Strategic, taking credit for placing a story in
The Times about a Home Office investigation into Palestine Action over their funding.
It appeared shortly before the group’s ban under terrorism legislation in July, and was subsequently picked up by the Mail and GB news.
According to Private Eye, Home Office officials said they were investigating Palestine Action’s funding sources “amid concerns that the Iranian regime, via proxies, is funding the group’s activities given that their objectives are aligned”.
The magazine approached the Home Office for comment at the time, but a spokesperson said they did not recognise the claims.
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A Palestine Action spokesperson described the alleged investigation as “baseless” and “ridiculous”.
CMS also denied any involvement in The Times article despite Pickering's purported claim to the contrary.
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The Guardian reported at the time that the briefing came two days after pro-Israel lobbying group We Believe in Israel
tweeted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is the “darker pupeteer” behind Palestine Action.
It did not provide any evidence beyond claims that the group’s slogans “echo” IRGC language.
In the months before the ban was voted through, We Believe in Israel launched a “multi-front” campaign demanding Palestine Action’s proscription,
publishing two reports on the group.
Then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s statement on the group’s ban closely mirrored the language used in the two reports.
Palestine Action frequently targeted Elbit System’s factories and offices, as well as premises belonging to companies linked to the firm, including CMS.
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