UK police assess national security adviser's wife after post supporting Palestine Action

British police are investigating a social media post made by Sarah Helm, the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, who appeared to express support for Palestine Action, a group designated as a terrorist organization. The post, made on X/Twitter, read: "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action." The post came after another notable figure, Sally Rooney, announced that her book sales would no longer contribute to Palestine Action due to the group's involvement in protests and vandalism.

Helm's tweet came to the attention of the Metropolitan Police, who stated that they are "assessing" the post to determine if further investigation is necessary. Palestine Action is proscribed under UK terrorism laws, meaning that expressing support for the group is considered a criminal offense. The government spokesperson clarified that the individual's views do not represent the government's stance and emphasized that Palestine Action has engaged in acts of vandalism and has been linked to criminal activities, including a 2024 raid on a defense firm's factory that resulted in over £1 million in damages.

Amnesty International reported that more than 3,500 individuals have been arrested in Britain since Palestine Action was banned last year, many of them for allegedly supporting the organization. Despite challenging the government's decision to ban the group, the Court of Appeal ruled in June that the proscription was lawful.