Andy Burnham urged to clarify position on national security adviser after wife ‘backed Palestine Action’

Last week, the journalist and author responded to a post on X, showing a clip of broadcaster Adam Boulton criticising fellow author Sally Rooney.

In the clip shared by Ms Helm, Mr Boulton said: “She [Sally Rooney], in common with a lot of people in Ireland, is taking a very strong pro-Palestine and, I have to say, anti-Israel and anti-Jewish stance.”

Reposting the clip to her own X feed, Ms Helm added a post which read: “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.”

A Met Police spokesman confirmed the post did “not meet the criminal threshold”, and no further action would be taken.

However, a senior Tory has now written to the Prime Minister with a series of questions about Ms Helm’s post and other comments she has made online.

Shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns wrote in a letter to Mr Burnham: “I am writing to raise a series of public statements made on X by Sarah Helm, the wife of your national security adviser, Jonathan Powell.

“Taken together, they raise serious questions about the handling of sensitive national security information, about apparent support for a proscribed terrorist organisation, and about whether Mr Powell can credibly continue in his post.”

Ms Kearns highlighted another post by Mr Powell’s wife on Monday evening, where she was asked if he was instrumental in banning Palestine Action, if he had any input in the move and if he could unban them.

Ms Helm responded: “Nope and nope.”

The Tory minister asked the Prime Minister if the post was accurate, and whether he thought it was “acceptable that such a matter has been posted on social media”.

She said: “If her account is accurate, sensitive detail about the handling of a terrorism proscription has been disclosed on social media from within the national security adviser’s own household.

“If it is inaccurate, it is still wildly inappropriate that she is discussing this on social media.”

Ms Kearns also urged the Cabinet Office to investigate Ms Helm’s “disclosure” and whether the Prime Minister would be reviewing Mr Powell’s security clearance in light of the social media posts.

She said: “Do you retain full confidence in the national security adviser, and do you consider his position tenable?”

Palestine Action was officially proscribed as a terrorist organisation under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership in July 2025.

However, the Supreme Court granted permission for Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori to appeal the proscription, scheduled to be heard by the UK Supreme Court between October 1 and December 21.

A No10 spokesman said: “These views are held by an individual who does not represent the Government in any capacity.”

GB News has contacted representatives for Ms Helm for comment.