LONDON — Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the United Kingdom's ban on the direct-action group Palestine Action in Parliament on Wednesday, after being pressed to review the proscription because Irish author Sally Rooney can no longer sell her books in Britain over her support for the group, PA Media reported. Asked about the case at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Burnham said: 'When it comes to the proscription of Palestine Action, it followed a rigorous and evidence-based process that came before this House, endorsed by Parliament. The matter is a live legal case, so I won't comment further than that.'

Palestine Action was proscribed on July 5, 2025, under the previous government of Keir Starmer, making membership of, or support for, the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, PA reported. The group says its stated goal is ending global participation in what it calls Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime, and its proscription followed a series of direct actions against weapons factories, including those of the Israeli arms firm Elbit, AFP reported.

Ms Rooney, 35, the author of Normal People and Intermezzo, previously said she would donate her earnings from her books and BBC adaptations to Palestine Action. She told the BBC that further publication of her work in the UK could constitute a 'serious criminal offence', so she had agreed with her publisher not to continue supplying her books to UK retailers, PA reported. Her publisher Faber said the ban meant it could not legally pass on royalties earned in the UK to her, AFP reported. Palestine Action is not proscribed in Ireland, where Ms Rooney lives and works.

In the Commons, Claire Hanna, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, urged the Prime Minister to 'commit to reviewing the proscription of Palestine Action', which she said had 'extraordinary consequences for freedom of expression', including for constituents of hers facing terror charges for peaceful protest, PA reported. Mr Burnham did not commit to a review.

Also on Wednesday, more than 150 writers and personalities signed an open letter urging the UK government to amend what they called its 'draconian' ban, AFP reported. 'Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public,' the letter said, calling the withdrawal of her books 'an affront to basic principles of free speech and expression'. Signatories included Nobel laureates Annie Ernaux and Anne Carson and actors Paul Mescal and Tilda Swinton, AFP reported. Thousands of people have been arrested in Britain since the proscription for protesting against the move, AFP added. Britain's Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal against the ban from the group's co-founder Huda Ammori next month.

Sources: PA Media, 'PM backs rigorous process behind Palestine Action ban after Rooney book halt', 21 October 2026; AFP via The Express Tribune, 'Authors urge UK to halt draconian Palestine Action ban as Rooney sales end', 21 October 2026.