Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey Plans Boycott of King’s Banquet for Trump Over Gaza

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has announced he will boycott the upcoming state banquet hosted by King Charles in honor of US President Donald Trump's state visit, as a protest against Trump's handling of the Gaza conflict. Davey and his wife spent the summer praying and reflecting before deciding that declining the invitation was the only way to send a strong message to Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging them to act to end the humanitarian crisis and facilitate hostage releases. Davey expressed concern that honoring Trump without addressing his influence over the conflict would appear as ignoring the suffering in Gaza. In response, Conservative politicians, including Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel, condemned Davey's boycott as a disrespectful gesture toward the King and damaging to the UK-US alliance, accusing him of poor judgment and political grandstanding. A Liberal Democrat source countered these accusations, emphasizing Davey's respect for the monarchy and framing his decision as principled rather than performative. The debate highlights tensions between political protest and diplomatic protocol during Trump's highly scrutinized state visit.