UK national security adviser under pressure over wife’s comment on supporting Palestine Action

UK police assess Palestine Action post by security adviser’s wife British police said on Friday they were assessing a social media post after the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to express support for Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group which was banned as a "terrorist" organisation by the UK government in July 2025. Journalist and author Sarah Helm, who is married to Powell, responded on X to a post about the Irish novelist Sally Rooney, who this week announced her books would no longer be sold in Britain over her plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action. Helm said in the post: "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action." In response, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the post was "being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required".

Asked for comment, a government spokeswoman said: "These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity." The Labour government’s proscription of the Palestine Action group means that expressing support for it or being a member is a criminal offence carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Human rights organisations have widely denounced the ban as draconian. Thousands of people have been arrested since it came into effect for holding placards expressing support for the group.

God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action. Sounds like Adam would have all our books swept off the shelves in a jiffy. — Sarah Helm (@SarahHelm1) October 15, 2026

Author Sarah Helm, married to Jonathan Powell, wrote to back novelist Sally Rooney’s support of proscribed direct action groupThe UK’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, is under pressure to distance himself from a comment made by his wife, the award-winning writer Sarah Helm, in support of Palestine Action.The post was made in defence of the critically acclaimed Irish novelist Sally Rooney, who said she had been forced to pull her books from shelves in the UK after pledging proceeds from their sales to Palestine Action. The wife of the UK Prime Minister’s national security adviser, Sarah Helm, has sparked controversy by voicing support for the banned activist group Palestine Action. Downing Street has distanced itself from her comments.