UK PM adviser’s wife expresses ‘support’ for Palestine Action

Key points

• British police are reviewing a social media post by Sarah Helm, wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, that appears to support Palestine Action.
• Helm wrote on X on Thursday: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.'
• The UK government outlawed Palestine Action in July 2025, and since then police have arrested more than 3,500 people for alleged support.

British police are reviewing a social media post by Sarah Helm, the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, in which she appears to endorse Palestine Action, a group the UK has proscribed as a 'terrorist' organisation. Helm, a writer, posted on X on Thursday: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.'

The post came in response to a message defending Irish novelist Sally Rooney, who this week said her books would no longer be sold in the UK because she plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Friday that Helm's post is 'being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.'

Government and police response

A government spokesperson cited by Reuters said the views in Helm's post 'are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.' The UK government outlawed Palestine Action in July 2025 after activists from the group broke into a Royal Air Force base and sprayed red paint on two aircraft to protest against UK military support for Israel's war on Gaza. Being a member or supporter of the group is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

We hope Sarah will not face the same treatment for standing up for free speech and Palestinian lives.

— spokesperson for Defend Our Juries

Arrests and legal challenge

Since the ban took effect, police have arrested more than 3,500 people in the UK for alleged support of Palestine Action, many for holding up placards, according to rights group Amnesty International. Palestine Action has contested its proscription, but the Court of Appeal upheld it in June. The activist group Defend Our Juries defended Helm, saying it knows of 36 people arrested and whose homes were raided for similar social media support. A spokesperson said, 'We hope Sarah will not face the same treatment for standing up for free speech and Palestinian lives.'