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, after she expressed support for authors who back Palestine Action.
The decision comes days after Irish novelist Sally Rooney’s books were withdrawn from sale in the UK over her support for the group, raising questions about freedom of expression and the uneven consequences of speaking out for Palestine.
Helm, a journalist and author married to national security adviser Jonathan Powell, wrote on X: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.” She was responding to the controversy surrounding Rooney, whose publisher Faber announced this week that it could no longer supply her books in the UK.
On Saturday, the Metropolitan Police said Helm’s post had been assessed by specialist officers but “did not meet the criminal threshold. No further police action will be taken.” The government had previously distanced itself from her comments, saying they did not represent its position.
While police determined that Helm’s public expression of support did not warrant further action, Rooney has effectively been removed from the UK book market after pledging to donate royalties to Palestine Action. The group was proscribed under the UK’s terrorism legislation in July 2025, making certain forms of support and funding criminal offences. Rooney has said she is prepared to accept the consequences of her position.
The cases expose the chilling effect the ban can have on cultural life and political expression, extending beyond direct action to writers, publishers and people expressing solidarity.
More than 3,500 people have been arrested in Britain for allegedly supporting Palestine Action since the ban, according to Amnesty International figures. The withdrawal of Rooney’s books has intensified concerns that counterterrorism legislation is being used in ways that suppress political dissent and restrict freedom of expression.
