Sally Rooney's books pulled from UK sale; more than 140 artists sign letter in her defence

How the books were withdrawn

Faber, Sally Rooney's publisher, announced in the week before 21 October 2026 that it would stop supplying her work in the UK in any format. The decision follows her public support for Palestine Action, a group the British government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July 2025 under the Starmer government. Rooney had said in an Irish Times op-ed in August 2025 that she intended to donate royalties from her books and television adaptations to the group. Faber said existing British legislation meant it could not pass UK earnings on to Rooney, and that selling her books without paying her would be unconscionable. The publisher made the decision with Rooney's agreement. The books have not been formally banned, so shops can keep selling copies already in stock, but retailers cannot order new stock from Faber.

The open letter

On 21 October 2026 the New Statesman published an open letter declaring that "Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist." The count of signatories depends on the outlet: the Irish Independent reports 142, while ANSA cites 160 and BFMTV says nearly 160. Among the names are Nobel literature laureates Anne Carson and Annie Ernaux, plus JM Coetzee according to TheJournal.ie. Other signatories include Julian Barnes, Arundhati Roy, Colm Tóibín, Tilda Swinton, Jonathan Glazer, Gary Lineker, Jeremy Corbyn and the Irish singer CMAT. Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones, who played the leads in the Normal People adaptation, also signed. The letter describes the withdrawal of her books as an affront to free speech and urges the government to amend the legislation.

Terrorism Act and arrests

According to ANSA, the Terrorism Act is applied so broadly that anyone who supports a designated organisation, including by funding it or by holding a sign against its ban, can face terrorism charges and prison. ANSA reports more than 3,000 peaceful protesters arrested in London and elsewhere in recent months, among them elderly and disabled people and church figures, who were accused only of displaying solidarity slogans for Palestine Action. BFMTV, citing the Defend Our Juries group, puts the number of people detained at support protests since the ban at more than 3,700. The two counts differ and are not reconciled in the reporting. During Commons Question Time on Wednesday, a Northern Irish MP urged the new Labour prime minister, Andy Burnham, to act, according to ANSA.

Rooney's response

In a statement, Rooney said that continuing to sell her works could constitute a serious criminal offence, after previously saying she intended to use her earnings to support the group. She said she had tried to be open about her views and was prepared to accept the consequences.

I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences.

She is not the subject of a formal ban, but the withdrawal from new supply remains in place while the letter's signatories press the government to change the law.