AI Image
UK PM adviser’s wife expresses ‘support’ for Palestine Action
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- British police are reviewing a social media post by Sarah Helm, wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, in which she appears to endorse Palestine Action, a group banned in the UK as a terrorist organization.
- Helm's post came in response to Irish novelist Sally Rooney's decision to stop selling her books in the UK after announcing she would donate royalties to Palestine Action.
- The Metropolitan Police are assessing whether Helm's post requires further investigation, while a government spokesperson emphasized that her views do not represent the government.
- The UK government proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025 after activists protested at a Royal Air Force base, with membership or support punishable by up to 14 years in prison; over 3,500 arrests have been made since.
- Activist group Defend Our Juries defended Helm's stance on free speech, and UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband recently indicated the government is reviewing the Palestine Action ban amid concerns over mass arrests.
