The wife of Britain’s national security adviser has called for the government to lift the ban on Palestine Action after police said they would take no further action over a social media post in which she was accused of expressing support for the proscribed group.

Sarah Helm, a journalist and author married to Jonathan Powell, was cleared by police after posting on X: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.”

Helm responded to a discussion about Irish author Sally Rooney, who can no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action.

The Metropolitan Police said it had been made aware of a post  and that specialist officers had assessed it.

“It was determined that it did not meet the criminal threshold. No further police action will be taken,” the force said.

Since the controversy started, Helm has continued to post on social media in support of people who support Palestine. In another post on X, she wrote: “Where do I sign the letter calling for such absurdity to halt and for Palestine Action to be unbanned under the Terrorism Act?”

She was responding to a post about creatives signing a letter urging the government to lift the ban.

Palestine Action was officially banned as a terrorist organisation in July 2025. Under this ban, being a member of or supporting the group can be a criminal offence, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.

UN officials and human rights groups have condemned the proscription, raising concerns about its implications for freedom of expression and peaceful protest.

Downing Street made it clear that the government does not share Helm’s views.

“These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity,” a government spokesperson said.

Powell, a senior civil servant, served as chief of staff to former prime minister Tony Blair and later as national security adviser under Keir Starmer. He continues in the role under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Sally Rooney’s books to be withdrawn from UK supply

Helm’s comments came after Rooney’s publisher, Faber, announced that UK law prevents it from sending the author her earnings from book sales. The publisher said it would stop supplying her books in the UK in any format.

The bestselling Irish author had said she intended to donate earnings from her books to Palestine Action. She confirmed that Faber’s decision had been made “with my full agreement”.

Faber later clarified that retailers would not remove copies already held from sale. “To sell ‌a writer’s work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher,” it said.

In a statement. the bestselling author said: “In July 2025, the direct-action protest group Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK. The following month, I wrote an opinion piece expressing my intention to go on supporting Palestine Action, which is not a proscribed or otherwise prohibited group here in the Republic of Ireland.

“As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence. After a process of consultation and deliberation, and with my full agreement, my publisher Faber has therefore determined that it can no longer supply my work within the UK. I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences.”

According to Amnesty International, more than 3,500 people have been arrested over alleged support for Palestine Action, with more than 2,250 charged.

Many of those arrested have been pensioners. Government statistics covering the year to March 2026 put the average age of terrorism suspects in the UK at 30, compared with 59 for suspects linked to Palestine Action.