Sarah Helm, the wife of Andy Burnham’s national security adviser, has faced outrage and demands that she “face the full force of the law” after appearing to express support for proscribed group Palestine Action.
The 69-year-old author and journalist, who is married to Prime Minister’s senior aide Jonathan Powell, described herself as one of “us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action” in a response to a post about Sally Rooney.
Rooney, the author of Normal People, said earlier this week that she would stop selling her books in the UK because of her support for the banned organisation.
The 35-year-old writer had previously said she would donate income from her books and their BBC adaptations to Palestine Action. However, her publisher, Faber, said this would not be possible because of the group’s proscription.
Membership of, or support for, proscribed organisations such as Palestine Action can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Ms Helm’s remarks could have serious consequences for Mr Powell, 69, one of Downing Street’s most influential officials. He has played a central role in advising the government on its policy towards Palestine Action.
Mr Powell has also been closely involved in high-stakes diplomatic efforts in the Middle East in recent weeks. Those efforts included a trip to Israel amid tensions surrounding the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli government announced the closure of the historic consulate after the UK Government imposed sanctions and a trade ban on goods from West Bank settlements.
Author Sarah Helm, who is married to Andy Burnham’s national security adviser, has sparked outrage after appearing to support proscribed group Palestine Action
Ms Helm made the comment on X in response to Times Radio pundit Adam Boulton, after he accused Sally Rooney of antisemitism
Senior Downing Street aide Jonathan Powell has played a central role in advising the government on its approach to Palestine Action
Ms Helm was responding to Times Radio pundit Adam Boulton, who had accused Rooney of antisemitism earlier this week over her stance on Palestine Action.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “She, in common with a lot of people in Ireland, is taking a very strong pro-Palestine and, I have to say, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish stance.”
Ms Helm, who has been married to Mr Powell since 2007, later wrote on X: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action. Sounds like Adam [Boulton] would have all our books swept off the shelves in a jiffy”.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said the comment raised “serious questions”.
A spokesperson said: “This is gobsmacking. Clearly, the police need to investigate and Sarah Helm must face the full force of the law, just like others who appear to express support for any proscribed terrorist organisation.
“But this raises extremely serious questions for Jonathan Powell and the Government.
“Spouses are entitled to independent views, but plainly Mr Powell, who leads on our country’s national security and has been intricately involved in our Middle East diplomacy, must publicly denounce this rhetoric if he is to continue in post.”
Normal People author Sally Rooney said earlier this week that she would stop selling her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action
A Government spokeswoman told the Daily Mail: “These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.”
Since the proscription came into force on July 5, 2025, more than 3,700 people have been arrested for expressing support for the group.
Recent arrests include a 94-year-old human rights barrister, who protested outside the Labour Party conference and held up a placard reading: ‘I support Palestine Action’.
Retired priest, Reverend Sue Parfitt, 84, was also arrested in July for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action at a protest outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters.
Then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper initiated the ban under the Terrorism Act 2000 after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two military aircraft.
Palestine Action was also accused of several acts of serious criminal damage running into the millions, including at the Thales defence factory in Glasgow, in 2022, as well as at the Instro Precision factory in Kent and the Bristol headquarters of Elbit Systems UK in 2024.
The Daily Mail has contacted Met Police and Ms Helm for comment.