Police: No further action against Sarah Helm over Palestine Action post

Unbiased summary

Sarah Helm, a journalist and author married to the prime minister's national security adviser Jonathan Powell, posted on X on Thursday: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.' She was responding to a discussion about author Sally Rooney, whose publisher Faber decided not to sell her books in the UK after Rooney said she would donate royalties to Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police said on Friday it was assessing the post and on Saturday announced it did not meet the criminal threshold, so no further action would be taken. Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July 2025, making support a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Downing Street distanced itself from Helm's remarks, and the Campaign Against Antisemitism had called for an investigation.

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Coverage by outlet

The Guardian left

Angle The Guardian frames the story as a routine police assessment that correctly concluded no offence was committed, while noting far-right pressure to prosecute.

Bias The Guardian includes context that there was insufficient evidence the post was capable of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation, which downplays the seriousness of the post. It also gives prominence to the Campaign Against Antisemitism's demand for prosecution, framing it as an external pressure rather than a neutral fact. The headline is factual but omits reference to the controversial nature of the post.

No action to be taken against wife of PM’s aide over Palestine Action post

BBC News centre-left

Angle The BBC presents a straightforward factual account, providing context about Sally Rooney and Palestine Action's proscription without overt editorialising.

Bias The BBC's coverage is largely neutral, but it includes a description of Palestine Action's stated goal as 'ending global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime' without attributing this characterization as controversial. This framing may lend legitimacy to the group's rhetoric. The BBC also omits mention of the Campaign Against Antisemitism's call for investigation, which was present in other reports.

No further action against government adviser's wife over Palestine Action post, police say

Daily Mail right

Angle The Daily Mail emphasises the controversial nature of the post and the group involved, using emotive language to suggest leniency and highlighting the 'terror group' label.

Bias The Daily Mail repeatedly refers to Palestine Action as a 'banned terror group' and describes the tweet as 'appearing to support' it, which frames Helm's comment as potentially criminal despite the police decision. The outlet also incorrectly identifies Jonathan Powell as 'Andy Burnham's national security adviser' in the headline, a factual error, and includes a response from Adam Boulton accusing Sally Rooney of anti-Semitism, which adds a contentious angle not central to the police decision.

Wife of Andy Burnham's national security adviser faces no further action over tweet that appeared to support banned terror group Palestine Action