Two children’s laureates pledged royalties to Sally Rooney, the Guardian reported Oct. 25; Faber had stopped UK supply, saying current legislation prevented it from passing on her earnings.
Chris Haughton said he would give Rooney royalties from his UK book sales. Nicola Davies told the Guardian she would pass Rooney her next half-year payment from The Day War Came, which she expected soon. If fulfilled, the pledges would direct royalties to Rooney and reduce income due to Haughton and Davies. The report gave no amounts or indication that either payment had been made.
Haughton said, “As authors, we need to be focused on freedom of expression.” Davies said, “I support Sally Rooney in the stand she’s taken.” Haughton is Ireland’s Laureate na nÓg for 2026-2029, while Davies is Children’s Laureate Wales through August 2027.
Faber said in an Oct. 14 statement that current legislation prevented it from passing Rooney’s UK earnings to her. The publisher said Rooney agreed to the decision and that it would continue selling her work in other territories. EconoTimes previously reported on Faber’s decision to halt UK supply. The Bookseller reported that shops could still sell inventory they had received before the halt; Faber’s published statement did not address those copies.
In an Aug. 16, 2025, essay, Rooney said she intended to use proceeds from her work to support Palestine Action. A UK order proscribing the group took effect July 5, 2025. Section 15 of the Terrorism Act 2000 covers providing money when a person knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that it may be used for terrorism.
The UK Supreme Court case summary says the Court of Appeal overturned a lower court finding that the proscription decision was unlawful. The UK Supreme Court has listed the appeal for Nov. 4-5.
