Key facts
- Children's laureates Chris Haughton and Nicola Davies are donating royalties to Sally Rooney.
- Rooney was unable to sell her books in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action.
Children's laureates from Ireland and Wales are donating royalties from their UK book sales to author Sally Rooney in solidarity after she was unable to sell her books in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action. Chris Haughton and Nicola Davies are donating their earnings to Rooney, who has stated she will use proceeds to support the proscribed group.
The actions of prominent children's authors highlight concerns about freedom of expression and the implications of proscribing activist groups, potentially impacting artistic and political speech.
Children's laureates from Ireland and Wales are donating royalties from their UK book sales to author Sally Rooney in a show of solidarity. Rooney was reportedly unable to sell her books in the UK because of her public support for Palestine Action, a group proscribed under the UK Terrorism Act. Chris Haughton, Ireland's laureate, stated he wanted to express his full support for Rooney and demonstrate the "absurdity" of the situation. Nicola Davies, laureate for Wales, said she supports Rooney's stand and will donate royalties from her book 'The Day War Came'. Haughton has previously been arrested for alleged support of Palestine Action. Andy Burnham, questioned in parliament, defended the proscription of the group, stating it followed a rigorous process.
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