Lib Dem leader Ed Davey to boycott king's banquet for Trump over Gaza

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has announced he will boycott King Charles' state banquet held in honour of Donald Trump in protest against the US president's failure to pressure Israel to end its war in Gaza.

Trump and his wife Melania will be hosted for the president's unprecedented second state visit from 17 to 19 September.

The visit is set to include a banquet hosted by the king and Queen Camilla in Windsor Castle.

Davey, the leader of Britain's third biggest party, said it went against his "instincts" to reject an invitation from the king to the banquet, but his Christian faith impacted his decision not to go.

"Boycotting the state banquet is not something I ever wanted to do," he wrote in the Guardian, "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."

Davey added: "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.

"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."

'I had to pray'

Davey told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that "I had to pray about it. I am a Christian, and my wife and I go to our local church, St Andrew’s and St Mark’s, very regularly.

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"My faith is very important to me and to my wife, and although… other people say religion doesn’t impact your politics, it does impact mine."

The MP added: "I don’t talk about it very much, but on this I had to be very honest, I’ve thought and prayed about this. I really have."

Davey has regularly spoken about Gaza in parliament, urging the Labour government to apply more pressure on Israel. Last September the Liberal Democrats called for a full arms embargo on Israel.

Davey said on Thursday that he feared a situation where Trump "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."

The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday that Israel’s genocide in Gaza has now killed at least 62,966 Palestinians and wounded 159,266.