UK police rule out probe into Palestine Action post by PM adviser’s wife

The story in context

British police have ruled out a criminal investigation into a social media post by Sarah Helm, the wife of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, Al Jazeera reported on October 18, 2026. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Saturday that officers had reviewed the post and found insufficient grounds for further action. Police had confirmed on Friday that they were assessing it.

Helm, an author and journalist, posted on X on Thursday in terms that appeared to express support for Palestine and Palestine Action. Her remarks followed an announcement by publisher Faber that it would stop supplying Sally Rooney’s books in the United Kingdom after the Irish novelist said she intended to direct royalties towards Palestine Action.

According to Al Jazeera, Faber said UK legislation prevented it from transferring Rooney’s British earnings to her. The publisher said it and Rooney had agreed to halt the supply of her work in all formats in the UK, while maintaining sales elsewhere. The Campaign Against Antisemitism had urged police to investigate Helm’s remarks. A government spokesperson separately said her views were not those of the government.

Palestine Action has been banned under UK terrorism legislation since lawmakers voted for its proscription in July 2025. Al Jazeera reported that the Court of Appeal upheld the ban in June following the group’s legal challenge. The report also cited Amnesty International as saying that more than 3,500 people had been arrested for allegedly supporting the organisation since its prohibition, with many arrests involving people displaying placards.