The wife of Andy Burnham's national security adviser has sparked outrage and calls to 'face the full force of the law' after appearing to support proscribed terror group Palestine Action.
Author and journalist Sarah Helm, 69, who is married to the Prime Minister's senior aide Jonathan Powell, declared herself as one of 'us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action' in response to a post referencing Sally Rooney.
Normal People author Rooney stated earlier this week she will no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for the banned group.
The 35-year-old previously said she would donate earnings from her books, and BBC adaptations of them, to Palestine Action - but her publisher Faber determined that could not happen because of the ban.
Membership or support for such proscribed groups, which include Palestine Action, is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Ms Helm's comment could cause serious implications for Mr Powell, 69, one of Downing Street's most crucial officials, and who has been at the forefront of advising the government on its approach to Palestine Action.
He has also been deeply involved in high-stakes diplomatic interventions in the Middle East in recent weeks, including travelling to Israel amid tensions over the shutdown of the British consulate in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli government announced the closure of the historic consulate in response to the UK government's decision to invoke sanctions and a trade ban on goods from West Bank settlements.
Author Sarah Helm, who is married to Andy Burnham's national security adviser, has sparked outrage after appearing to support proscribed terror group Palestine Action
Ms Helm posted her comment on X in reaction to Times Radio pundit Adam Boulton, after he accused Sally Rooney of anti-Semitism
Senior Downing Street aide Jonathan Powell has been at the forefront of advising the government on its approach to Palestine Action
Ms Helm wrote her comment in response to Times Radio pundit Adam Boulton, who accused Rooney of anti-Semitism earlier this week over her position on Palestine Action.
Speaking on Sky News, he said: 'She, in common with a lot of people in Ireland, is taking a very strong pro-Palestine and, I have to say, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish stance.'
The journalist, who has been married to Mr Powell since 2007, then took to her X and wrote: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action. Sounds like Adam [Boulton] would have all our books swept off the shelves in a jiffy'.
Advocacy group Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said Ms Helm's comment 'raises serious questions'.
A spokesperson said: 'This is gobsmacking. Clearly, the police need to investigate and Sarah Helm must face the full force of the law, just like others who appear to express support for any proscribed terrorist organisation.
'But this raises extremely serious questions for Jonathan Powell and the Government.
'Spouses are entitled to independent views, but plainly Mr Powell, who leads on our country's national security and has been intricately involved in our Middle East diplomacy, must publicly denounce this rhetoric if he is to continue in post.'
Normal People author Sally Rooney said earlier this week she will no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action
A Government spokeswoman told the Daily Mail: 'These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.'
Since the proscription came into force on July 5, 2025, more than 3,700 people have been arrested for expressing support for the group.
Retired priest, Reverend Sue Parfitt, 84, was also arrested in July for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action at a protest outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters.
Then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper initiated the ban under the Terrorism Act 2000 after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two military aircraft.
Palestine Action was also accused of several acts of serious criminal damage running into the millions, including at the Thales defence factory in Glasgow, in 2022, as well as at the Instro Precision factory in Kent and the Bristol headquarters of Elbit Systems UK in 2024.
The Daily Mail has contacted Met Police and Ms Helm for comment.