150+ writers warn UK’s Palestine Action ban threatens free speech

• More than 150 writers, actors and other public figures have urged the UK government to amend its ban on Palestine Action, warning of consequences for freedom of expression.
• Irish novelist Sally Rooney has agreed to withdraw her books from UK distribution after her publisher, Faber, said anti-terrorism legislation prevented it from passing her royalties to her.
• Signatories include Nobel laureates, bestselling authors and actors who argue that the legislation has turned political expression into a threat to literary freedom.
• The Labour government faces mounting criticism as the ban approaches a Supreme Court review.

More than 150 writers, actors and cultural figures called on the British government on Wednesday to amend its ban on Palestine Action, arguing that the legislation threatens freedom of expression after Irish author Sally Rooney agreed to halt the distribution of her books in the United Kingdom over her support for the pro-Palestinian group. 

The open letter, signed by prominent literary and entertainment figures, has intensified scrutiny of the Labour government's decision to designate Palestine Action a terrorist organization in July 2025. 

The letter, published in the New Statesman, brings together prominent voices from literature, film and public life in support of Rooney, whose publisher, Faber & Faber, announced last week that it would stop supplying her works in the UK.

Among the signatories are Nobel Prize-winning authors Annie Ernaux and Anne Carson, novelists Zadie Smith and Arundhati Roy, and actors Paul Mescal, Tilda Swinton and Jessie Buckley. Filmmaker Jonathan Glazer and broadcaster Gary Lineker have also joined the appeal. 

The signatories argue that removing Rooney's books from UK distribution amounts to censorship and raises wider concerns about the limits placed on political expression. They are calling on the government to change the legislation that led to the decision.

Rooney, best known for novels including Normal People and Conversations with Friends, previously declared her intention to direct earnings from her work towards Palestine Action. She said that continuing to publish and sell her books in Britain under the current legal framework could expose those involved to criminal liability.

Faber said the legislation had created circumstances in which it could not pass UK earnings from Rooney's work to her. The publisher said it could not continue selling an author's work while being unable to transfer the proceeds, and confirmed that it would continue distributing her books in other territories. 

The withdrawal concerns distribution of Rooney's work rather than an order prohibiting every existing copy. Books already held by UK retailers may remain available for sale while stocks last. 

Palestine Action ban sparks civil liberties debate

The British government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organization on July 5, 2025, following a series of direct-action protests targeting sites linked to the arms industry, including facilities associated with ‘Israeli’ weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.

The decision followed a June 2025 incident at RAF Brize Norton, where activists broke into the military airbase and caused extensive damage to aircraft. The government defended the ban on security grounds, while critics argued that applying terrorism legislation to the group could criminalize forms of protest and solidarity with Palestinians. 

Under the legislation, membership of or support for a proscribed organization can constitute a criminal offence. The ban has prompted repeated demonstrations, with thousands of arrests reported in connection with protests against the designation. Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the potential effects on peaceful protest and freedom of expression. 

The government has rejected claims that the ban prevents lawful support for Palestinians. A Home Office spokesperson has maintained that peaceful demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause remain a democratic right, while arguing that the decision to proscribe Palestine Action followed an evidence-based process approved by Parliament. 

The legal dispute is continuing. The UK's Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a challenge to the proscription in November 2026, bringing the legality of the ban and its wider implications for civil liberties back into focus.