World
• Analysis
Children's laureates to send Sally Rooney royalties over Palestine Action ban
Chris Haughton, Ireland's children's laureate, and Nicola Davies, Wales's laureate, are sending royalties from their books to Sally Rooney after she halted UK sales of her works over the Palestine Action ban, in a sally rooney royalties Palestine Action protest the pair describe as a stand for freedom of expression.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 25, 2026
• 3 Min Read
Why the laureates are donating
The two children's laureates say the donation is a show of solidarity with Rooney, whose books include Normal People and Conversations with Friends, after she stopped selling her works in Britain. Chris Haughton, Ireland's children's literature laureate, said he wanted to demonstrate the absurdity of the bestselling author being unable to receive royalties from her own UK sales.
'The entire situation is just a farce'
Haughton said authors must defend free speech above all.
"As authors, we need to be focused on freedom of expression, this is everything we're about."
He called the law's effect a farce, saying: "The entire situation is just a farce. Sending Sally Rooney the money adds another level of absurdity to this absurd situation" and "it's making a mockery of the law."
- •Haughton said Palestine Action is the most effective organisation in the UK at stopping arms going to a genocide.
- •He added: "I'm very sure that I will be on the right side of history."
Nicola Davies, Wales's children's laureate and author of The Day War Came, said she would donate her half-year royalties from the book to Rooney, noting its sales rose during the conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. "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," she said. Davies also observed that Gaza is smaller than the Welsh county of Flintshire.
The ban and the legal stakes
Palestine Action became the first direct action group proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act in July last year, listed alongside groups such as al-Qaida and Boko Haram. After the ban, Rooney said she would use proceeds from her sales to support the group.
- •Providing money one knows or has reasonable cause to suspect may be used for terrorism carries a maximum jail term of 14 years.
- •Haughton said he has twice been arrested for holding placards allegedly supporting Palestine Action, an alleged offence with a maximum sentence of six months in prison.
Supreme court challenge ahead
At prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Andy Burnham was asked whether he would review the ban and said proscription "followed a rigorous and evidence-based process that came before this house, endorsed by parliament".
The supreme court is due to hear a legal challenge on 4 and 5 November, arguing the ban disproportionately interferes with freedom of expression and protest rights, and Burnham declined to comment further before then.
