Police are reviewing a social media post by Sarah Helm, wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, in which she appears to endorse the proscribed group Palestine Action.
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01Summary
- 01Sarah Helm, a writer married to PM Andy Burnham's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, wrote on X: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.'
- 02A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on 16 October 2026 that the post is being assessed for possible further investigation.
- 03The UK government outlawed Palestine Action in July 2025; membership or support carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence.
- 04Since the ban, more than 3,500 people have been arrested in the UK for alleged support of the group, according to Amnesty International.
- 05Palestine Action's proscription was upheld by the Court of Appeal in June 2026; Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said last month the government is 'looking at' the ban.
02Why it matters
This matters because it tests the UK's anti-terror laws and free speech, while highlighting the ongoing controversy over Palestine Action's ban and the government's approach to proscribed groups.
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