The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, will boycott King Charles’s state banquet held in honour of Donald Trump to protest against the US president’s failure to intervene decisively to end the war in Gaza.
Davey, who is invited to the dinner for Trump’s state visit to the UK, said to turn down an invitation from the king went against all his instincts and that it was a deeply serious move to refuse to attend.
But he said he feared unless he took a stand over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the lack of pressure on Israel from the US government, no one would raise the issue during the president’s visit in late September.
Davey said: “Boycotting the state banquet is not something I ever wanted to do, but I believe it is the only way I can send a message to both Donald Trump and Keir Starmer that they cannot close their eyes and wish this away.”
Trump’s state visit is an honour that has never previously been extended for a second time to a US president. Davey said he believed Keir Starmer was right to engage with Trump, but said it was vital that someone raised the issue of Gaza in a way that could not be ignored.
“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza must stop. The famine must end. The hostages must be returned home. There is one man, more than anyone else, who has the power to make it happen,” he wrote in a Guardian piece explaining his decision.
“Donald Trump could do those things today if he chose to. He has more power than anyone else finally to force a ceasefire and put Israel and Palestine on the path to a lasting peace, with a two-state solution. But so far, he’s decided not to. Instead, he’s given Netanyahu his full support.”
Davey said the invitation to state banquets was “one of the great privileges of being the leader of my party”.
He said: “Receiving an invitation from the king is an enormous honour, and I take very seriously my duty to our sovereign.
“To refuse an invitation like this goes against all of my instincts. But having thought and prayed long and hard about it with Emily [Gasson, Davey’s wife], I have come to the conclusion that on this occasion I must refuse.”
Davey said although he deeply disagreed on many issues with Trump, including on Ukraine, his engagement with Vladimir Putin and his use of tariffs, his decision to boycott the dinner was purely a stand on Gaza.
after newsletter promotion
“I think Keir Starmer is right to engage with him – although I do wish he was tougher with Trump on everything from tariffs to Putin,” he said.
“I fear we could have a situation where Trump comes to our country, is honoured with a lavish dinner at one of our finest palaces, and no one reminds him that he has the power to stop the horrifying starvation, death and captivities in Gaza. And no one uses this moment to demand that the US president picks up that phone to Netanyahu and the Qataris and does the right thing.”
Davey said the war in Gaza was now causing such acute suffering he was determined to use every lever he could as an opposition leader.
“I feel a responsibility to do whatever I can to make sure the people in Gaza are not forgotten during the pomp and ceremony. To make sure the UK makes Donald Trump’s personal responsibility for securing peace in Israel and Palestine an issue.”
