Liberal Democrat Leader to Skip State Banquet for Trump in Protest Over Gaza
Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, will not attend the state banquet hosted by King Charles in honor of Donald Trump, citing the U.S. president’s lack of decisive action to end the conflict in Gaza.
Davey, who was invited to the dinner marking Trump’s state visit to the UK, stated that rejecting a royal invitation conflicted with his instincts and was a serious decision. However, he said he felt compelled to take a stand, fearing that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza would go unmentioned during Trump’s visit in late September if he did not act.
“Declining the state banquet is not something I take lightly, but I believe it is the only way to send a clear message to Donald Trump and Keir Starmer that they cannot ignore this issue,” Davey said.
Trump’s visit is a rare honor, as no U.S. president has previously been granted a second state visit to the UK. While Davey agreed that Starmer was right to engage with Trump, he stressed the need for Gaza to be addressed publicly in a manner that could not be dismissed.
“The suffering in Gaza must end—the famine, the deaths, the hostage situation. One person has more power than anyone else to change this,” he wrote in an article for CuriosityNews.
“Donald Trump could act today if he chose. He has the influence to push for a ceasefire and advance a two-state solution for lasting peace. Instead, he has backed Netanyahu without question.”
Davey described invitations to state banquets as a significant privilege of his leadership position. “A royal invitation is a profound honor, and I respect the duty it entails. Refusing it goes against my instincts, but after careful consideration with my wife, Emily, I concluded I must decline this time.”
Though Davey disagrees with Trump on many issues—from Ukraine policy to relations with Putin and trade tariffs—he emphasized that his boycott was solely about Gaza.
“Engagement with Trump is necessary, though I wish Starmer took a firmer stance on matters like tariffs and Russia,” Davey added.
“I worry Trump’s visit will pass without anyone challenging him on Gaza, even as thousands suffer. No one will demand he use his influence to end the violence and secure the hostages’ release.”
Davey said the scale of suffering in Gaza had driven him to use every available means as an opposition leader to push for change.
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