PR boss embroiled in Palestine Action 'placed story' row is Labour councillor

The head of a public relations firm embroiled in a row over allegations that she had claimed to be involved in placing a story in a British newspaper which suggested that Iran was funding Palestine Action is a Labour Party councillor.

Private Eye magazine reported this week that a "trusted witness" said Georgia Pickering, who heads CMS Strategic, took credit for placing the story in The Times about a Home Office investigation into the funding of direct action group Palestine Action.

Both CMS Strategic and the Labour Party have strenuously denied the Private Eye report.

But the story appears to raise questions about links between Labour and the Israeli arms firm Elbit, a longtime client of CMS Strategic and one of the main companies targeted by Palestine Action protests, after it was revealed that Pickering is also a Labour local councillor. 

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK's Labour government in July. 

The Times story, which reported that Home Office officials had claimed Iran could be funding Palestine Action, appeared a few days earlier, on the same day the then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to ban the group.

The government took action after Palestine Action activists broke into an RAF base and sprayed red paint on two transport planes. Last year the group also sprayed the front of CMS Strategic's office with red paint.

'Any suggestion that Councillor Pickering was involved with The Times article… is categorically untrue'

– Labour Party spokesperson

Pickering, who is CMS Strategic's managing director, has been a Labour councillor since May 2023 in Bracknell Forest Council, and is currently chair of the council's Overview & Scrutiny Commission.

Since June 2023 she has been the council's "armed forces community champion".

And as of July, she co-chaired the defence and aerospace policy network for the Labour in Communications network.

Asked about the Private Eye report, Susan Halliwell, chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, told MEE: "The majority of Bracknell Forest councillors have full-time or part-time jobs in addition to their councillor roles.

"Any work they carry out in a private capacity is separate from the council. As such, Bracknell Forest Council cannot comment on this matter."

MEE contacted Pickering for comment but did not receive a response.

Helping clients 'land coverage in top outlets'

CMS Strategic denied the Private Eye report. 

MEE asked the Labour Party's press office whether the party saw a conflict of interest in a councillor heading a PR firm working for Elbit while the Labour government has imposed a partial arms embargo on Israel.

A Labour Party spokesperson told MEE: "Any suggestion that Councillor Pickering was involved with The Times article dated 23 June 2025 or discussed being involved with it is categorically untrue.

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“All relevant declarations have been made to the council in the normal way, in line with the rules.”

CMS Strategic says on its website that it has "excellent relationships in the defence media, industry, Armed Forces and the UK Ministry of Defence", and "actively seek[s] to employ and support Reservists, Veterans and those with ties to the UK Armed Forces".

The firm has previously said on LinkedIn that it helps clients "land coverage in top outlets, including The Sunday Times, The Financial Times" and other papers.

The Times story reported that 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”.

Private Eye approached the Home Office for comment at the time, but a spokesperson said they did not recognise the claims.

A Palestine Action spokesperson described the alleged investigation as “baseless” and “ridiculous”.

Palestine Action and Elbit Systems

Palestine Action frequently targeted Elbit System’s factories and offices, as well as premises belonging to companies linked to the firm, including CMS.

A Home Office minister also met representatives of Allianz UK, an insurance firm targeted by Palestine Action, on 3 June – weeks before the department moved to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation.

Allianz, the world’s largest insurance firm, has been repeatedly targeted by Palestine Action, which accuses it of holding financial ties to Elbit.

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The new revelations come as a trio of prisoners, held on remand for alleged offences relating to Palestine Action activities, have launched a hunger strike over what they describe as "systematic abuse" by prison authorities.

The campaign group Prisoners for Palestine (PFP) announced on Sunday that prisoners Qesser Zurah and Amu Gibb launched a rolling hunger strike by refusing food at HMP Bronzefield.

Heba Muraisi, who is being held on remand at HMP New Hall, joined them on Monday.

The British government's ban on Palestine Action in July means the group is akin to the Islamic State or al-Qaeda in British law, and expressing support or membership of the group is a criminal offence that could lead to a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

MEE previously reported that prisoners linked to Palestine Action were facing increasing restrictions on their post, phone calls and visits in the wake of the proscription.