Sally Rooney’s books withdrawn from UK sale over Palestine Action support
publishers 70articles 84first reported 14 Oct, 13:24 UTCdeveloping since 14 Oct · 13 editionstop 25 #8
Irish novelist Sally Rooney’s publisher, Faber, has stopped supplying her books in the United Kingdom after concluding that UK law prevents it from passing British sales earnings to her because of her stated intention to support Palestine Action.
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the British government in July 2025. Rooney has said she intended to use proceeds from her books and television adaptations to support the group, which is not banned in the Republic of Ireland. Providing support to a proscribed organisation can constitute a criminal offence under UK law.
Faber said it had made the decision in full agreement with Rooney and would no longer supply her works in the UK in any format. The publisher said selling an author’s work without being able to transfer the earnings was “an unconscionable situation.” It will continue selling her books in other territories.
Rooney, whose novels include *Normal People*, *Conversations with Friends* and *Intermezzo*, said she had been open about her beliefs and was prepared to accept the consequences. She previously warned in a High Court witness statement that the ban could cause her existing books to disappear from UK shops and prevent publication of new work there.
Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, said she was “shocked” by the withdrawal and would raise the issue with her British counterpart. A UK Supreme Court hearing challenging Palestine Action’s proscription is scheduled for November 4 and 5.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 24 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 70
- Source articles
- 84
- Given to the writer
- 8, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 24 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →