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National security adviser's wife backs Sally Rooney amid Palestine Action book row

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Neutral summary

Sarah Helm, a prominent author and journalist married to Jonathan Powell, the UK prime minister's national security adviser, has sparked controversy by publicly supporting Sally Rooney. Rooney's books are being withdrawn from the UK market following her backing of Palestine Action. Reacting to criticism from journalist Adam Boulton, Helm posted on X: "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action. Sounds like Adam would have all our books swept off the shelves in a jiffy." The Daily Mail expressed outrage, calling Palestine Action a proscribed terror group, while Middle East Eye noted that Helm, a former foreign correspondent for The Independent, has long been a critic of the Israeli government's policies towards Palestinians. Powell served as national security adviser under former prime minister Keir Starmer and retained the role when Burnham took office. The National (Scotland) and Guido Fawkes also covered the incident, with the latter adding an ironic comment on Helm's statement.

How it was framed

Outlets: 7. Countries: 2. Facts in the shared core: 2.

Publication timeline

  1. · The National (Scotland) (outlet profile)

    Wife of Andy Burnham's top aide backs Palestine Action in shock intervention. THE wife of Andy Burnham’s top national security adviser has backed Palestine Action.

  2. · Guido Fawkes (outlet profile)

    National Security Adviser’s Wife Appears to Back Palestine Action. Author Sarah Helm, married to NSA Jonathan Powell, tweeted in support of Sally Rooney in the wake of Adam Boulton’s criticism: “God help us…

  3. · Middle East Eye (outlet profile)

    Wife of top Burnham adviser backs Sally Rooney after books withdrawn over Palestine Action support. Wife of top Burnham adviser backs Sally Rooney after books withdrawn over Palestine Action support Submitted by Imran M…

  4. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    Outrage as wife of Andy Burnham's national security adviser expresses support for banned terror group Palestine Action. Author Sarah Helm, who is married to Andy Burnham's national security adviser Jonathan Powell, appe…

  5. · Guido Fawkes (outlet profile)

    EXC: Reform’s Danny Kruger Writes to PM After National Security Adviser’s Wife Appears to Back Palestine Action. Reform’s Danny Kruger has written to Andy Burnham after Sarah Helm, wife of National Security Advise…

  6. · The Independent (outlet profile)

    National security adviser’s wife accused of supporting Palestine Action. ‘God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action,’ Sarah Helm, who is the wife of Jonathan Powell, wrote on X

  7. · Middle East Eye (outlet profile)

    UK police assess Palestine Action post by security adviser’s wife. UK police assess Palestine Action post by security adviser’s wife British police said on Friday they were assessing a social media post after the wife o…

  8. · Al Jazeera (outlet profile)

    UK PM adviser’s wife expresses ‘support’ for Palestine Action. Police reviewing social media post by writer Sarah Helm, wife of Burnham's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

  9. · GB News (outlet profile)

    National security adviser’s wife accused of backing Palestine Action. The wife of Andy Burnham's National Security Adviser has been accused of supporting Palestine Action. In a post on social media, Sarah Helm, wife of…

Factual core

  • Sarah Helm, the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, tweeted in support of Palestine Action.
  • Helm posted in response to Boulton: 'God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action. Sounds like Adam would have all our books swept off the shelves in a jiffy.'

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