Sally Rooney unable to collect Sky Arts Award in person over Palestine Action arrest threats

Sally Rooney was unable to collect her Sky Arts Award in person as she was advised she "can no longer safely enter the UK without potentially facing arrest" for her support of Palestine Action.

At the London ceremony on Tuesday, Rooney was announced as the winner of the Sky Arts Award for Literature for her novel Intermezzo.

Alex Bowler, Rooney's editor, took the stage in her place and explained, "She can't be here, but if she had been, it would have meant a lot. I have a few very simple words from her, which she asked me to share."

"I'm so touched and grateful to receive this prize," said Bowler, reading Rooney's acceptance speech.

"I truly loved writing Intermezzo, and it means the world to me to think that it has found some small place in the lives of its readers. I wish that I could be with you this evening to accept the honour in person, but because of my support for non-violent anti-war protest, I'm advised that I can no longer safely enter the UK without potentially facing arrest.

"In that context, I want to thank you all the more warmly for honouring my work tonight and to reiterate my belief in the dignity and beauty of all human life, and my solidarity with the people of Palestine. Thank you."

On August 16, Rooney penned an Irish Times piece pledging to continue supporting Palestine Action "in whatever way I can," including residuals from BBC adaptations of her books.

In response to her statements, British authorities warned Rooney could face arrest under the UK Terrorism Act for financially supporting Palestine Action, which was proscribed as a terrorist group in the UK in July.

Proscription made showing support for the direct action network a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Earlier this month, nearly 900 peaceful protesters were arrested at a London rally protesting the ban.

Watch Alex Bowler read Sally Rooney's acceptance speech at the Sky News Awards below:

 

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Also at the Sky News Awards, Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Geldof briefly mentioned Gaza in his acceptance speech, in which he said, "What [the arts[ can do is put our experiences into a perspective so that we can look at them afresh, rather than be overwhelmed by the cost of living, by the flags, by the horror of Gaza, or the bloody fields of Ukraine."

Kneecap were also nominated at the Sky Arts Awards for their latest album, Fine Art, but lost to Lola Young's This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway. Kneecap's feature biopic, Kneecap, directed by Rich Peppiatt, was also nominated in the film category, but was beaten by Edward Berger's Oscar-winning film Conclave.