Sally Rooney's books to be withdrawn from UK sale over her Palestine Action support
Irish novelist Sally Rooney says her publisher Faber can no longer supply her books in the UK, because her stated support for the proscribed group Palestine Action could make paying her UK earnings a terrorism offence.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Irish novelist Sally Rooney said on 14 October 2026 that she can no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action, which the UK banned in July 2025. The GuardianLC “Sally Rooney has said she is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because of her support for the banned organisation Palestine Action.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “Sally Rooney has said she can no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for the banned protest group Palestine Action.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2In a statement given to the Guardian, Rooney said she wrote an opinion piece in August 2025 saying she intended to keep supporting Palestine Action, which is not prohibited in the Republic of Ireland, and that as a result fulfilling contracts to publish her work in the UK could constitute a serious criminal offence. The GuardianLC “As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “which is not a proscribed or otherwise prohibited group here in the Republic of Ireland.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2She said her publisher, Faber, determined with her full agreement that it can no longer supply her work in the UK, and that she is "wholly prepared to accept the consequences". The GuardianLC “I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “my publisher Faber has therefore determined that it can no longer supply my work within the UK.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Left · 1Faber said current UK legislation means it cannot pass UK earnings on to Rooney, called selling a writer's work without being able to do so "an unconscionable situation for a publisher", and said it will no longer supply her works in the UK in any format while continuing to sell them in other territories. The GuardianLC “To sell a writer’s work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher.”“we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2Rooney had previously said she would use proceeds from her sales, including from the BBC adaptations of her novels, to support Palestine Action; she said last year the TV dramatisations' independent producer had advised that paying her could breach terrorism law if it knew or suspected the money would fund the group. The GuardianLC “Rooney said last year that she had been advised by the independent producer of the TV dramatisations that any payment to her for those series, both broadcast before the ban, would be a breach of terrorism laws” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “previously said she would donate earnings from her books and BBC adaptations of novels to Palestine Action” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2The Guardian cites Section 15 of the Terrorism Act, which covers providing money or property that may be used for terrorism and carries a maximum 14-year sentence; the Evening Standard says the ban makes membership of or support for the group an offence punishable by up to 14 years. The GuardianLC “It carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “made membership of, or support for, the direct-action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2Rooney also cancelled a UK trip to collect an award, the Standard identifying it as the Sky Arts Award for literature in September 2025, for fear of arrest. Evening StandardN “In September 2025, Rooney cancelled a trip to London to accept the Sky Arts Award for literature” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “she subsequently cancelled a trip to the UK to pick up an award, for fear of arrest.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1Her books have sold heavily in the UK: Normal People has sold more than 1m copies, and Conversations With Friends and Beautiful World, Where Are You have each sold more than 500,000, according to the Guardian. The GuardianLC “Normal People has sold more than 1m copies, while Conversations With Friends and Beautiful World, Where Are You have each sold more than 500,000.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1More than 3,700 people are believed to have been arrested in the UK for alleged support of Palestine Action since the ban, and about 2,500 have been charged, though none has been tried because a legal challenge to the ban will be heard by the supreme court next month, according to the Guardian. The GuardianLC “will be heard by the supreme court next month”“More than 3,700 people are believed to have been arrested in the UK for alleged support of Palestine Action since it was banned in July last year” Read at The Guardian ↗
Centre · 1The Evening Standard said it had contacted Faber for comment when it published, and described the group's stated goal as "ending global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime". Evening StandardN “Faber has been contacted for comment.”“ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Guardian leads with Rooney's account and adds legal and commercial detail: the Terrorism Act provisions, Faber's full statement, her sales figures and the scale of arrests.
- Emphasis
- Legal mechanics, freedom-of-expression concerns raised in her High Court statement, and the arrests under the ban.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not describe the group's stated aims.
- Charged language
- “voice of a generation”
- For example
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“she has been described as the voice of a generation” — The Guardian
“Supporting organisations banned under the Terrorism Act is an offence” — The Guardian
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- The Evening Standard runs a shorter report that centres on Rooney's statement and the ban, in its showbiz section.
- Emphasis
- The start date of the ban, her age, her bibliography and the cancelled award trip; notes protests in defiance of the ban.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Faber's statement, sales figures, arrest and charge totals and the pending supreme court hearing.
- Charged language
- “genocidal and apartheid regime”
- For example
-
“Supporters of the group have staged regular protests in defiance of the Government’s ban, leading to hundreds of arrests under terrorist legislation.” — Evening Standard
Right2 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Rooney says she can no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action.
- Palestine Action was proscribed in the UK in July 2025; Rooney says it is not prohibited in Ireland.
- Faber decided with Rooney's agreement that it can no longer supply her work in the UK.
- Rooney cancelled a UK trip for fear of arrest.
Where accounts differ
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Which law makes the arrangement an offence
- Left
- The Guardian cites Section 15 of the Terrorism Act (funding terrorism, up to 14 years), and notes most arrests relate to section 13 (up to six months).
- Centre
- The Evening Standard says the ban makes membership of or support for the group an offence punishable by up to 14 years.
Sally Rooney person
Says she was open about her beliefs, agreed with Faber's decision, and is prepared to accept the consequences.
“I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences.” — The Guardian
Left1 article
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Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action support
Sympathetic Presents Rooney's and Faber's statements at length with legal context on the Terrorism Act and the scale of arrests.
Centre2 articles
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Sally Rooney’s books withdrawn from UK over her support of Palestine Action
Neutral Brief factual report relaying Rooney's statement from the Guardian and background on the ban.
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- 14 Oct 14:19 First The GuardianLC Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action support
- 14 Oct 15:59 +1h 41m Evening StandardN Sally Rooney’s books withdrawn from UK over her support of Palestine Action
- 14 Oct 16:20 +2h 2m Arab NewsRC Sally Rooney books cannot be sold in UK amid Palestine Action ban: publisher via AFP
- 14 Oct 17:00 +2h 41m BBC NewsN Sally Rooney books withdrawn in UK over Palestine Action support
- 14 Oct 17:08 +2h 49m The Jerusalem PostRC Irish author Sally Rooney's books no longer sold in UK over support for banned Palestine Action
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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