Ed Davey to boycott Trump state banquet in push to end Gaza’s humanitarian disaster
Today Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has announced he is to decline an invitation to the state banquet for Donald Trump next month, to raise the issue of Trump’s complicity in the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Ed has made clear the decision was an extremely difficult one given his huge respect for the King, but he concluded he had to use the occasion of Trump’s state visit to make the point that “if Donald Trump tells Benjamin Netanyahu to stop this, it ends tomorrow.”
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
“Emily and I have spent all summer thinking about this and have prayed about it. There is no honour like an invitation from the King, and not to accept his invitation goes against all of our instincts.
“But I fear we could have a situation where Donald Trump comes to our country, is honoured with a lavish dinner at one of our finest palaces, yet no one reminds him that he has the power to stop the horrifying starvation and death in Gaza and get the hostages released.
“If Donald Trump tells Benjamin Netanyahu to stop this, it ends tomorrow. If Donald Trump uses his influence over Qatar and other Gulf states that Hamas relies on, all the hostages could come home tomorrow.
"Boycotting the banquet is the one way I can send a message to Donald Trump and Keir Starmer that they can't close their eyes and wish this away. We have to speak up, they have to act. Donald Trump has to end this humanitarian crisis."
ENDS
