Irish and Welsh children's laureates to give Sally Rooney royalties over Palestine Action ban

Mixed · 2Chris Haughton, Ireland's children's literature laureate, and Nicola Davies, children's laureate for Wales, say they will donate royalties from their books to the Irish author Sally Rooney in solidarity with her. 1 2 Mixed · 2Rooney's books are no longer sold in the UK. The Guardian says she was forced to stop selling them because of her support for Palestine Action. Arab News says her publisher withdrew them after she said she would use proceeds from sales to support the group. 1 2 Mixed · 2Palestine Action became the first direct action group to be proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act, in July last year. The ban puts it in the same category as al-Qaida and Boko Haram. Providing money that one knows or has reasonable cause to suspect may be used for terrorism carries a maximum jail term of 14 years. 1 2

Left · 1Haughton said he wanted to show the "absurdity" of Rooney being unable to receive royalties from her own UK sales. He called the situation "a farce" and said sending her money was "making a mockery of the law". He said he could not do what she had done because he is in the UK a lot of the time, but could support her instead of supporting Palestine Action. 1 Mixed · 2Haughton also said that Palestine Action is "the only organisation – or the most effective organisation" in the UK to have had some success in stopping arms going to a genocide. He said he was sure he would be "on the right side of history". 1 2 Left · 1The Guardian reports that Haughton has twice been arrested for holding placards allegedly supporting Palestine Action. The alleged offence carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison. 1

Mixed · 2Davies, author of The Day War Came, about a child refugee from war, said she cannot claim to stand up for Wales's children while the children of Gaza are "murdered and mutilated without comment". She said she will donate to Rooney the royalties from that book when her half-year royalties arrive shortly. 1 2 Left · 1Prime Minister Andy Burnham was asked at prime minister's questions whether he would review the ban in light of Rooney's situation. He replied that proscription "followed a rigorous and evidence-based process that came before this house, endorsed by parliament". The Guardian says he declined to comment further because of a pending court case. 1 Mixed · 2The Supreme Court is due to hear a legal challenge to the ban on 4 and 5 November. The Guardian says the challenge argues that the ban interferes disproportionately with the rights to freedom of expression and protest. Arab News notes that the decision was made under Burnham's predecessor, Keir Starmer. 1 2