World News
Police assess post by national security adviser's wife on Palestine Action
The Metropolitan Police are assessing whether further investigation is needed, while Downing Street says Sarah Helm does not speak for the government.
The short version
- Sarah Helm, wife of national security adviser Jonathan Powell, posted on X indicating support for Palestine Action.[Al Jazeera · The Guardian · BBC News]
- The Metropolitan Police are assessing the post to determine whether any further investigation is required; the outcome is not yet known.[Al Jazeera · The Guardian · BBC News]
- Downing Street said the views are held by an individual who does not represent the government, while the Campaign Against Antisemitism urged Powell to publicly denounce them.[Al Jazeera · The Guardian · BBC News]
- Reform UK MP Danny Kruger has written to the prime minister raising concerns, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski defended Helm and called for Palestine Action to be de-proscribed immediately.[BBC News]
Key facts
- Sarah Helm, wife of UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell, posted on X indicating support for Palestine Action.[Al Jazeera · The Guardian · BBC News]
- The Metropolitan Police said the X post from Thursday 15 October is being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.[Al Jazeera · The Guardian · BBC News]
- Downing Street said the views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.[Al Jazeera · The Guardian · BBC News]
- The Campaign Against Antisemitism called for Helm to face the full force of the law and said Powell must publicly denounce the rhetoric if he is to continue in post.[The Guardian]
- Reform UK MP Danny Kruger has written to the prime minister raising concerns about Helm's post.[BBC News]
- Green Party leader Zack Polanski defended Helm and called for Palestine Action to be de-proscribed immediately.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- Police have not said whether the post will lead to an investigation, so the outcome of the assessment is unknown.[The Guardian · BBC News]
- Reports describe the post as indicating or appearing to endorse support for the group, so its meaning and legal significance remain untested.[Al Jazeera · The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.