Downing Street on Friday distanced itself from the wife of the British prime minister’s national security adviser after she voiced support for Palestine Action, a group banned under UK law.
Sarah Helm, a journalist and author married to Jonathan Powell, posted on X on Thursday: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.”
She was reacting to a row over the publisher Faber, which said on Wednesday that its Irish author Sally Rooney could not sell her books in Britain because of her support for Palestine Action. Under UK law, it is illegal to support or finance the group, which the government proscribed as a terrorist organisation last year.
Helm’s post criticised another British journalist who had accused Rooney of holding anti-Israel and anti-Jewish views. She wrote that he would “have all our books swept off the shelves in a jiffy”.
A government spokeswoman said Helm’s views were personal and separate from the government. “These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity,” she said.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism called the post “gobsmacking”. It said the police needed to investigate and that Helm “must face the full force of the law”. The group also urged Powell to denounce the remarks publicly, pointing to his role in Middle East diplomacy.
London’s Metropolitan Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Palestine Action post row: the background
Helm has written for The Sunday Times and The Independent. In 2011 she wrote a play, “Loyalty”, based on her relationship with Powell when he served as chief of staff to Tony Blair. Powell is a career civil servant who also served under former prime minister Keir Starmer. He now advises Prime Minister Andy Burnham on national security.
Her X account, which covers international politics, has more than 1,000 followers. They include Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action.
Britain’s Supreme Court is due to hear an appeal against the group’s ban next month, brought by Ammori. The case will test one of the most contested proscription decisions in recent British history, and it has turned the publishing world into an unlikely front line.
The row echoes other recent British controversies touching the Middle East. A British-Iranian man was arrested over a suspected RAF Fairford plot earlier this month, and Israel shut the British consulate in Jerusalem as a 30-day deadline expired. In Pakistan, JI staged a massive Gaza march in Karachi, while two Israeli filmmakers brought Gaza’s hidden war to the screen in a new documentary.
What happens next
The Supreme Court appeal next month will decide whether the proscription of Palestine Action stands. For now, Downing Street has drawn a clear line between Helm’s personal views and government policy, and the police have yet to say whether they will act on the calls for an investigation.
Frequently asked questions
What is Palestine Action?
A UK activist group that the British government proscribed as a terrorist organisation last year. Under UK law, it is illegal to support or finance the group.
Who is Sarah Helm?
A British journalist and author who has written for The Sunday Times and The Independent. She is married to Jonathan Powell, the prime minister’s national security adviser.
What did Downing Street say?
A government spokeswoman said Helm’s views were those of an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.
Could Sarah Helm face police action?
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for a police investigation. London’s Metropolitan Police has not yet responded to requests for comment.
*Source: Dawn’s report on the row*
