UK police assess Sarah Helm’s Palestine Action post

The Metropolitan Police is assessing a social media post by Sarah Helm, the wife of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, to decide whether further investigation may be required. Helm’s post expressed support for authors who back Palestine Action, a group proscribed by the UK government under terrorism laws. Helm wrote on X on October 15: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.” She was responding to a discussion about Irish novelist Sally Rooney, whose publisher has said her books cannot be sold in the UK because of her support for the group. Rooney has said she planned to direct royalties to Palestine Action. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the post was being assessed to determine whether further investigation might be required. The force has not announced that it has opened an investigation. A government spokesperson said Helm’s views were those of an individual and did not represent the government. The post drew calls both for police action and for protection of Helm’s right to express her views. The Campaign Against Antisemitism urged police to investigate and said Powell should publicly denounce the comments to remain in his post....