Children's laureates donate royalties to Sally Rooney after UK book sales halted over Palestine Action support

Chris Haughton and Nicola Davies say they are showing solidarity with the bestselling author, who stopped selling books in the UK after the direct action group was proscribed under terrorism laws.

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

Two children's laureates are donating royalties from their works to Sally Rooney in a show of solidarity after the bestselling author was forced to stop selling books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action, a group proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act last year. Chris Haughton, Ireland's children's literature laureate, said he wanted to demonstrate the 'absurdity' of Rooney being unable to receive royalties from her own UK sales, while Nicola Davies, the children's laureate for Wales, said she could not stand up for Welsh children if she allowed children in Gaza to be murdered without comment.

Rooney, author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, halted UK sales of her books after Palestine Action was proscribed in July last year. The group became the first direct action organisation to be banned under the Terrorism Act, placing it in the same category as al-Qaida and Boko Haram. Rooney had said she would use proceeds from her sales to support the group. Providing money one knows or has reasonable cause to suspect will or may be used for terrorism carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.

Chris Haughton, whose books have sold millions worldwide, told the Guardian he wanted to express 'full support' for Rooney. 'As someone who is in the UK a lot of the time, I can't do what she has done, but I can support her instead of supporting Palestine Action,' he said. 'As authors, we need to be focused on freedom of expression, this is everything we're about, and this is just showing solidarity with an author who has bravely spoken out. The entire situation is just a farce. Sending Sally Rooney the money adds another level of absurdity to this absurd situation, it's making a mockery of the law.' Haughton said he has been arrested twice for holding placards allegedly supporting Palestine Action. The alleged offence carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison.

Nicola Davies, author of The Day War Came, about a child refugee, said: 'I can't say that I am standing up for the children of Wales if I allow the children of Gaza to be murdered and mutilated without comment. Gaza is smaller than the Welsh county of Flintshire, and it's as if all Wales's children were concentrated there and being bombed. So I support Sally Rooney in the stand she's taken, and when my half-year royalties arrive shortly, I will donate to her the royalties from my book The Day War Came, whose sales have been boosted by the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine.'

At prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Andy Burnham was asked whether he would review the ban on Palestine Action in light of Rooney's situation. Burnham said proscription 'followed a rigorous and evidence-based process that came before this house, endorsed by parliament'. He said he would not comment further given that the Supreme Court is due to hear a legal challenge to the ban on 4 and 5 November. The challenge argues that the ban interferes disproportionately with the rights to freedom of expression and protest.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The case highlights a clash between anti-terrorism laws and freedom of expression, with authors and activists facing criminal penalties for supporting a proscribed group.
Rooney's decision to stop UK sales sets a precedent for how public figures may respond when their political stances conflict with legal prohibitions.
The Supreme Court hearing in early November will test the lawfulness of the proscription itself, potentially reshaping protest and expression rights in Britain.

Background

Palestine Action, a direct action group targeting companies linked to Israel's military operations, was proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act in July 2025, becoming the first such group banned under the legislation. The ban makes it an offence to support the group financially or otherwise. Sally Rooney publicly declared she would donate proceeds from her UK sales to Palestine Action, leading her to halt those sales to avoid potential prosecution. Chris Haughton, an Irish author and illustrator with international sales, and Nicola Davies, a Welsh author and the current children's laureate for Wales, are donating their own royalties to Rooney as an act of solidarity. Haughton has also been arrested twice for allegedly supporting the group, charges that carry a potential six-month prison sentence.

Key Perspectives

Chris Haughton (Ireland's children's literature laureate): Said the situation is 'a farce' and an 'absurdity,' and that donating royalties to Rooney 'adds another level of absurdity' and 'makes a mockery of the law.' He expressed full support for Rooney's 'brave' stance and said Palestine Action is 'the most effective organisation in the UK that has had some success in stopping arms going to a genocide.' Nicola Davies (Children's laureate for Wales): Said she could not stand up for Welsh children if she allowed the children of Gaza to be 'murdered and mutilated without comment,' and that she supports Rooney's stand. She will donate royalties from her book The Day War Came. Andy Burnham (Prime Minister): Said the proscription of Palestine Action 'followed a rigorous and evidence-based process that came before this house, endorsed by parliament.' He declined further comment because the Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge on 4 and 5 November.

What to Watch

The Supreme Court hearing on 4-5 November, where the legality of the proscription will be challenged on freedom of expression and protest grounds.
Whether other authors or public figures follow Haughton and Davies in publicly supporting Rooney or donating royalties.
The outcome of the charges against Haughton for allegedly supporting Palestine Action, which may test the law's application to individuals.

Sources

Two children’s laureates to give royalties to Sally Rooney after her UK sales halted · The Guardian
Two children’s laureates to give royalties to Sally Rooney after her UK sales halted · The Guardian

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThe Irish and Welsh children’s laureates are donating royalties to Sally Rooney after her UK book sales were halted over her support for Palestine Action.World news | The Guardian: “The children’s laureates for Ireland and Wales are donating royalties from their works to Sally Rooney in a show of solidarity after she was forced to stop selling books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action.”
SupportedChris Haughton and Nicola Davies say they are showing solidarity with Rooney.World news | The Guardian: “The children’s laureates for Ireland and Wales are donating royalties from their works to Sally Rooney in a show of solidarity”
SupportedHaughton is Ireland’s children’s literature laureate, and Davies is the children’s laureate for Wales.World news | The Guardian: “Chris Haughton, Ireland’s children’s literature laureate”
SupportedHaughton said he wanted to demonstrate the absurdity of Rooney being unable to receive royalties from her UK sales.World news | The Guardian: “Haughton, Ireland’s children’s literature laureate, said he also wanted to demonstrate the “absurdity” of the bestselling author being unable to receive royalties from her own UK sales”
SupportedDavies said she could not stand up for Welsh children if she allowed children in Gaza to be murdered and mutilated without comment.World news | The Guardian: “I can’t say that I am standing up for the children of Wales if I allow the children of Gaza to be murdered and mutilated without comment.”
SupportedPalestine Action was proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act in July last year and was the first direct-action group to be proscribed under it.World news | The Guardian: “which became the first direct action group to be proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act in July last year”
SupportedThe proscription placed Palestine Action in the same category as al-Qaida and Boko Haram.World news | The Guardian: “placing it in the same category as the likes of al-Qaida and Boko Haram.”
SupportedProviding money one knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, may be used for terrorism carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.World news | The Guardian: “Providing money one knows or has reasonable cause to suspect will or may be used for terrorism carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.”
SupportedHaughton said he had been arrested twice for holding placards allegedly supporting Palestine Action, and the alleged offence carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison.World news | The Guardian: “Haughton said he has twice been arrested for holding placards allegedly supporting Palestine Action, which became the first direct action group to be proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act in July last year, placing it in the same category as the likes of al-Qaida and Boko Haram. His alleged offence carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison.”
SupportedBurnham said proscription followed a rigorous, evidence-based process that came before Parliament and was endorsed by it.World news | The Guardian: “Burnham said proscription “followed a rigorous and evidence-based process that came before this house, endorsed by parliament”.”
SupportedThe Supreme Court is due to hear the legal challenge to the ban on 4 and 5 November, and the challenge argues the ban disproportionately interferes with freedom of expression and protest rights.World news | The Guardian: “the supreme court is due to hear a legal challenge to the ban on 4 and 5 November. The challenge is on the basis that the ban interferes disproportionately with the rights to freedom of expression and protest.”