Jonathan Powell, the UK's national security adviser, is under pressure to distance himself from comments made by his wife, award-winning writer Sarah Helm, who expressed support for Palestine Action.
Helm, a former journalist, posted on X in defence of novelist Sally Rooney, who stated she had to withdraw her books from UK shelves after pledging sales proceeds to Palestine Action. Palestine Action was proscribed last year, and supporting it could constitute a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Police have stated that Helm's post is "in the process of being assessed" to determine if an investigation is required. Downing Street has distanced itself from the post, with a spokesperson saying, "These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity."
Government guidance indicates that being married to someone tied to a proscribed terrorist organisation is considered an automatic national security risk for a national security adviser. The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for Helm to "face the full force of the law" and for Powell to publicly denounce the rhetoric.
This development comes as hundreds of writers, including Ali Smith and Kamila Shamsie, have signed an open letter in support of Sally Rooney, warning against banning writers for speaking out.