UK Police Review Social Media Post by Adviser’s Wife Supporting Palestine Action
British police are currently reviewing a social media post made by Sarah Helm, the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell. In her post, Helm appears to endorse Palestine Action, a group that has been classified as a terrorist organization in the UK. Helm expressed her sentiments on X, stating, "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action," in response to a post defending Irish novelist Sally Rooney. Rooney recently announced that her books would no longer be sold in the UK, as she plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that Helm's post is being assessed to determine if any further investigation is warranted. The government has distanced itself from Helm's views, with a spokesperson noting that she does not represent the government in any capacity.
The activist group Defend Our Juries has come to Helm's defense, criticizing what they describe as an "absurdly authoritarian ban on Palestine Action." They highlighted that 36 individuals have been arrested and had their homes raided for expressing similar support for the group on social media. A spokesperson for the group expressed hope that Helm would not face similar repercussions for advocating free speech and Palestinian rights.
Case Closed
Palestine Action was outlawed in July 2025 after its activists vandalized a Royal Air Force base to protest UK military support for Israel's actions in Gaza. Supporting or being a member of the group can lead to a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Since the ban was enacted, over 3,500 arrests have been made in the UK for alleged support of Palestine Action, with many arrests occurring for simply holding placards, according to Amnesty International.
The group has contested its proscription, but the Court of Appeal upheld the ban in June. Recently, UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband indicated that the government is reviewing the Palestine Action ban, stating that mass arrests resulting from the proscription were not the government's intent.
