Ed Davey Will Boycott Trump's State Banquet. An Unearthed Clip Shows That's Quite The U-Turn

Ed Davey is boycotting the state banquet being held in Donald Trump's honour.Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has said he will boycott a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle being hosted by King Charles for Donald Trump next month.The US president will visit the UK for an unprecedented second state visit from September 17 to 19.Davey said he was protesting against the US president’s failure to use his influence with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.He said: “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.”But an unearthed clip from just three months ago has revealed that Davey used to believe that turning down the invitation to attend the banquet would be a sign of “disrespect” for the King.He told the BBC’s Newsnight: “If he does come, and I was invited by King Charles III, I would go because I’m not going to disrespect our monarch.“And do you know what? With the MAGA entourage that will come with Donald Trump, I think he needs all the support he can get.”“With the MAGA entourage that will come with Donald Trump, I think the King needs all the support he can get"Liberal Democrats leader, Sir Ed Davey, says he would attend a state banquet for President Trump, if invited, to avoid "disrespect" to "our monarch".#Newsnightpic.twitter.com/QRD02IvDmV— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) April 29, 2025Davey has been criticised by his political opponents for the banquet snub.Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said: “The is an act of deep disrespect to His Majesty the King. It shows appalling judgment.“America is our closest ally and security partner, and the world’s biggest economy. Ed Davey has once again proved he is not a serious leader and more interested in pathetic gesture politics.”But a Lib Dem source said: “Priti Patel has a brass neck to talk about disrespecting the royal family. The Conservatives partied in Downing Street while our Queen mourned her husband. “Ed deeply respects the King and hasn’t taken this decision lightly. “He has had to weigh up the most effective way to send Donald Trump a message on Gaza. This is about principles, not gestures, so it’s no wonder the Conservatives don’t understand it.”Related...'Not Welcome': Protesters To Stage Anti-Vance Demo As US Vice-President Visits Cotswolds'Let Them Go And Have A Good Time': Trump Says MPs Should Not Be Recalled For His State VisitThe Date Of Donald Trump's Second State Visit To The UK Has Been Confirmed

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