London police assess a post backing Palestine Action by the UK security adviser's wife

Writer Sarah Helm, married to Prime Minister Andy Burnham's national security adviser Jonathan Powell, wrote on X on Thursday: "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action."

— Sarah Helm, writer

The Metropolitan Police says the post is being assessed to decide whether an investigation is needed. A government spokesperson said the views belong to an individual who does not represent the government.

Maximum prison term for supporting the group

14 years

The UK banned Palestine Action as a terrorist group in July 2025, after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and sprayed paint on two aircraft. Membership or support is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

What's next

More than 3,500 people have been arrested for alleged support of the group, according to Amnesty International. The Court of Appeal upheld the ban in June, and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband says the government is looking at it.