Burnham defends Palestine Action ban process after Rooney book supply stops

Prime Minister Andy Burnham defended the process behind the UK’s proscription of Palestine Action at Prime Minister’s Questions on 21 October 2026, after a lawmaker urged a review following publisher Faber’s decision to stop supplying Sally Rooney’s books to UK retailers. Burnham said the decision had gone through a rigorous, evidence-based process but declined further comment because of a live legal case, the Evening Standard reported.

Why Claire Hanna sought a review

Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Claire Hanna asked Burnham to commit to reviewing the proscription. She argued that it had extraordinary consequences for freedom of expression, citing Rooney’s books and constituents whom she said faced terror charges for peaceful protest. Her account of those cases was part of her challenge to the prime minister, as reported by the Standard.

What Faber’s decision means for Rooney’s books

Rooney had said she intended to donate earnings from her books and television adaptations to Palestine Action. She told the BBC that further publication of her work could constitute a ‘serious criminal offence’ and agreed with Faber that it would stop supplying her books to UK retailers, according to the Standard.

RTÉ reported that Faber announced the decision the previous week, saying UK legislation prevented it from passing earnings from British sales to Rooney. Faber called the prospect of selling her work without paying her ‘unconscionable’ and said it had acted with her agreement. The books have not been formally banned: retailers can sell existing stock but cannot order new copies from Faber. They remain available in Ireland and other international markets, RTÉ reported.

Normal People cast call for a change in the law

An open letter published in the New Statesman on 21 October called on the UK government to amend the legislation, RTÉ reported. It said Rooney’s books must be available to the public and criticised what its signatories described as direct or indirect censorship. Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, who starred in the television adaptation of Normal People, signed alongside its director Lenny Abrahamson and Conversations with Friends actor Alison Oliver.

Other signatories named by RTÉ included writers Marian Keyes, Zadie Smith and Arundhati Roy, as well as actors Tilda Swinton and Susan Sarandon. Their appeal adds to Hanna’s call for a change, while Burnham’s stated position at PMQs was that the proscription followed Parliament’s endorsed process and remained subject to a live legal case.