Faber announced on October 14 that it would stop supplying Sally Rooney's books in the UK in all formats, saying it could not pass on earnings from British sales to the author under current legislation and describing the situation as 'unconscionable'. The decision was made with Rooney's agreement.

Existing physical copies held by British bookshops can remain on sale, but retailers will no longer receive new supplies, while Faber continues selling her work in other territories.

Rooney, author of Normal People, Conversations with Friends and Intermezzo, had previously said she intended to donate royalties and proceeds from adaptations of her work to Palestine Action, which the UK government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July 2025.

Two prominent children's authors have pledged royalties from their own book sales to Rooney in a show of solidarity.

Chris Haughton, Ireland's children's laureate, is donating royalties from his UK sales, and told The Guardian, according to The Express Tribune: '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.'

Firstpost reports Haughton has been arrested twice over placards supporting Palestine Action.

Nicola Davies, children's laureate for Wales, will donate her next six months of royalties from The Day War Came, her picture book about a child refugee, saying she could not advocate for children in Wales while remaining silent about the suffering of children in Palestine.

The development is an unusual reversal inside publishing: instead of authors receiving money from book sales, fellow authors are now paying money to a blocked colleague to expose what they see as a contradiction.

The Express Tribune reports Haughton said sending Rooney his royalties would highlight the 'absurdity' of the situation and the contradiction at its heart, arguing authors should be able to express political beliefs without restrictions on their work.

The pledges have brought renewed attention to the dispute among writers and public figures, and to questions about the relationship between publishing, political conviction and the law.

Under UK law, knowingly providing financial or other material support to a proscribed organisation can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years, which is why Faber said it could no longer pass on Rooney's UK earnings.

The Express Tribune reports more than 3,700 people have been arrested in Britain for alleged support of Palestine Action since the ban was introduced, many involving protest placards.

A legal challenge to the proscription is due to be heard by the UK Supreme Court on November 4 and 5, examining whether the ban disproportionately interferes with freedom of expression and peaceful protest.

The pledges from Haughton and Davies add to growing support for Rooney as the debate over counterterrorism legislation and artistic freedom continues.