A British public relations consultancy, CMS Strategic, has been accused of orchestrating a media narrative linking Iran to the funding of Palestine Action, a proscribed direct action group. According to a report by Private Eye, Georgia Pickering, the head of CMS Strategic, allegedly claimed responsibility for placing a story in The Times about a Home Office investigation into Palestine Action’s funding sources. The article, which suggested Iranian proxies were financing the group, was published shortly before Palestine Action was banned under terrorism legislation in July 2023. The story was later amplified by outlets such as the Mail and GB News. However, the Home Office denied recognizing the claims, and Palestine Action dismissed the investigation as “baseless” and “ridiculous.” CMS Strategic also denied involvement in the Times article, contradicting Pickering’s alleged admission. The controversy emerged amid a broader campaign by pro-Israel lobbying group We Believe in Israel, which accused the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of being the “darker puppeteer” behind Palestine Action. The group’s reports, which influenced the language of then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s statement on the ban, lacked concrete evidence beyond claims of ideological alignment. Palestine Action, known for targeting Elbit Systems and its affiliates, including CMS, has faced increasing scrutiny in the UK.
PR firm ‘planted story’ about Iran funding Palestine Action in media, report says
