Jonathan Powell, the UK national security adviser, faces questions after his wife Sarah Helm expressed support on social media for the proscribed group Palestine Action.
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01Summary
- 01Sarah Helm, a former journalist and author, posted on X in defence of novelist Sally Rooney's support for Palestine Action.
- 02Palestine Action was proscribed under UK terror laws, with support carrying a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
- 03More than 3,700 arrests and 2,250 charges have been made under the ban on the group.
- 04Downing Street said Helm's views are her own and do not represent the government.
- 05Hundreds of writers signed a letter supporting Rooney, warning against book bans for political speech.
02Why it matters
This story highlights the tension between free speech and counter-terrorism laws, and raises questions about security clearance and impartiality at the highest levels of government.
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