UK police have decided not to pursue a criminal investigation into a social media post by Sarah Helm, the wife of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell. The post appeared to endorse Palestine Action, a group the country has proscribed as a “terrorist” organisation.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Saturday that officers had reviewed the post and concluded that it “did not meet the criminal threshold.” The force said no further police action would be taken. On Friday, police had said the post was still being assessed to determine whether further investigation was needed.
Helm’s post followed a publisher’s decision on Sally Rooney
Helm, an author and journalist, wrote on X on Thursday: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.” She made the comment shortly after the publisher Faber said this week that it could no longer sell the books of Irish author Sally Rooney in the UK. Rooney had announced plans to put her royalties towards supporting Palestine Action.
In a statement on its website, Faber said current UK legislation meant it could not pass UK earnings on to Rooney for her work. The publisher called this an unconscionable situation and said it agreed fully with Rooney’s position. It added that it would keep selling her work in other countries and regions.
Campaigners and government distance themselves from Helm
The Campaign Against Antisemitism, a British NGO, responded on X that Helm’s post was “gobsmacking.” It said police needed to investigate and that Helm “must face the full force of the law.”
After being asked for comment on Friday, a government spokesperson said Helm’s comments did “not represent the government in any capacity.”
Proscription, arrests and the court ruling on the ban
Palestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation since UK lawmakers voted for the ban in July 2025. Amnesty International says more than 3,500 people have been arrested in the UK for allegedly supporting the group since the ban took effect last year. Amnesty notes that many of those arrested were holding up placards.
Palestine Action challenged the government’s decision to ban it. However, the Court of Appeal ruled in June that the proscription was lawful.
