British police have launched an assessment into a social media post written by Sarah Helm, the wife of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell. In the message shared on X this past Thursday, the writer stated, “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.” Her comment followed a discussion regarding Irish novelist Sally Rooney, who recently declared that her books would no longer be sold in the United Kingdom due to her intention to donate royalties to the group.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that officials are evaluating the post to determine if further investigative action is required. In response to the development, a government spokesperson clarified that the views expressed by Helm are those of an individual and “do not represent the government in any capacity.”
The activist group Defend Our Juries issued a statement in defense of Helm, criticizing what it described as an “absurdly authoritarian ban.” A representative for the group noted that they are aware of 36 individuals who have faced home raids and arrests for similar expressions of support toward Palestine Action on social media, adding, “We hope Sarah will not face the same treatment for standing up for free speech and Palestinian lives.”
The British government formally outlawed Palestine Action in July 2025 following an incident where activists infiltrated a Royal Air Force base to spray red paint on aircraft to protest military ties to Israel’s war on Gaza. Under current regulations, both membership and vocal support for the group can result in prison sentences of up to 14 years. Amnesty International reports that over 3,500 people have been arrested since the ban was enacted, many for displaying simple placards. Being a member or a supporter is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Police have arrested more than 3,500 people in the UK for alleged support of the group, many of them for holding up placards, according to rights group Amnesty International, since the ban went into effect.
While the Court of Appeal upheld the proscription of the group this past June, the legal standing remains a point of public debate. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband recently remarked that the government is reviewing the ban, noting that he did not believe the resulting mass arrests were the intended outcome of the legislation.
