Shabana Mahmood criticises author Sally Rooney over Palestine Action comments

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has criticised author Sally Rooney’s plan to donate earnings from her books and their BBC adaptations to Palestine Action, which is proscribed in the UK. Mahmood said there was “a world of difference” between selling books for personal income and directing the proceeds to a banned organisation, whose proscription followed a Commons vote.

Rooney, 35, said she had agreed with publisher Faber to stop supplying her books to UK retailers because continuing to publish them could constitute a serious criminal offence. Supporting or belonging to Palestine Action can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. In the Commons, independent MP Shockat Adam challenged the Government over the withdrawal of Rooney’s books; Mahmood said the group’s proscription was subject to a legal case and that legal safeguards had been followed.