Full Breakdown
Sally Rooney’s UK Book Sales Halted Over Support for Proscribed Group Palestine Action
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Publisher Faber Ends UK Distribution
Faber & Faber will no longer supply any of Sally Rooney’s titles in the United Kingdom. The decision, made “in full agreement” with the author, follows UK anti-terrorism legislation that bars the publisher from passing on UK royalties because Rooney pledged to donate them to Palestine Action, a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Background & Context
Palestine Action, founded in 2020, stages direct-action protests against companies it says enable Israel’s military operations. In July 2025 the UK government added the group to the proscribed list, making support a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Timeline
- July 5 2025 – Ban on Palestine Action takes effect.
- August 2025 – Rooney’s *Irish Times* column pledges to fund the group with her royalties.
- October 14 2026 – Faber announces it cannot pass on UK earnings and will cease supplying Rooney’s works.
- November 4–5 2026 – UK Supreme Court scheduled to hear the final appeal on the proscription.
Data & Statistics
- *Normal People* has sold more than 1 million copies in the UK; *Conversations with Friends* and *Beautiful World, Where Are You* have each sold over 500,000 copies.
- The Home Office reports over 3,700 arrests and about 2,500 charges linked to alleged support for Palestine Action since the ban.
- Ebook editions have been removed from UK platforms; physical stock remains pending retailer decisions.
On-the-Ground Reports
Booksellers rushed to stock up before distribution ceased. Lucy Burke, a bookseller at London’s Camden Town Bookshop, said: “We were thinking, we’ll just get a whole bunch before we stop being able to,” describing the scramble as “absolutely ridiculous.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Some outlets note that existing physical copies can stay on shelves, while others suggest retailers risk legal exposure by continuing sales. No definitive guidance has been issued on whether selling pre-existing stock breaches the law, leaving booksellers uncertain.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Sally Rooney
- “Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK earnings to Sally Rooney for her work. To sell a writer's work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher,” — Publisher Faber
- “As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have taken the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format.” — Publisher Faber
- “We were thinking, we’ll just get a whole bunch before we stop being able to,” — Lucy Burke
What’s Next
The legal challenge will be heard by the UK Supreme Court on November 4 and 5. The ruling will determine whether authors can continue to support proscribed groups financially without jeopardising publication in the UK.