Police review post backing Palestine Action by wife of Britain's security adviser

The story

Police in London are reviewing a social media post by the writer Sarah Helm that mentioned Palestine Action, a group the British government banned as a terrorist organisation in 2025. Helm is married to Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

The post went up on X on Thursday, 15 October. In it, Helm wrote: "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action." She was responding to an online discussion about the Irish novelist Sally Rooney, whose books can no longer be sold in the UK because of her financial support for the group.

The Metropolitan Police said it had been made aware of the post and that it was being assessed to decide whether any further investigation was needed. Police did not say whether a formal inquiry had been opened.

Downing Street moved quickly to put distance between the government and the remarks. A spokeswoman said Helm was an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism has asked police to investigate and said Powell should publicly denounce the comments if he wants to stay in his job. Under the ban, showing support for Palestine Action or belonging to it can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Powell is one of the most experienced figures in British diplomacy. He was a senior adviser to Tony Blair and helped negotiate the Northern Ireland peace deal. Keir Starmer named him national security adviser in 2024, and he kept the role when Burnham became prime minister.