2 days ago
5
Liberal Democrat person Sir Ed Davey has refused an invitation from King Charles to a authorities meal with Donald Trump successful protestation implicit Gaza.
Sir Ed, who has been vocal successful his disapproval of the US president, said helium "thought and prayed agelong and hard" astir whether to judge the invitation to the authorities banquet astatine Windsor Castle during Mr Trump's historical 2nd sojourn adjacent month.
"I person travel to the decision that connected this juncture I indispensable refuse," helium wrote successful The Guardian.
The Lib Dem person said it is an "enormous honour" to person an invitation from the king, and helium takes "very earnestly my work to our sovereign".
"To garbage an invitation similar this goes against each my instincts," helium added.
But, helium said helium fears Mr Trump volition beryllium honoured with a "lavish meal astatine 1 of our finest palaces and cipher reminds him that helium has the powerfulness to halt the horrifying starvation, decease and captivities successful Gaza".
"And nary 1 uses this infinitesimal to request that the US president prime up that telephone to Netanyahu and the Qataris and bash the close thing," helium said.
Sir Ed said Mr Trump "more than anyone else" has the powerfulness to halt the humanitarian situation successful Gaza, extremity the famine and get the hostages returned.
"Donald Trump could bash those things contiguous if helium chose to. He has much powerfulness than anyone other yet to unit a ceasefire and enactment Israel and Palestine connected the way to a lasting bid with a two-state solution," Sir Ed said.
"But truthful far, he's decided not to. Instead, he's fixed Netanyahu his afloat support."
Read more:
What was it similar to beryllium 10ft from Trump assassination attempt?
Has Trump ended 7 wars arsenic helium claims?
Sir Ed said helium feels "a work to bash immoderate I tin to guarantee the radical successful Gaza are not forgotten during the pomp and ceremony" and to guarantee the UK makes Trump's "personal work for securing bid successful Israel and Palestine an issue".
The Lib Dem person made wide that refusing the invitation is not astir "the galore different issues connected which I profoundly disagree with President Trump".
He said helium thinks Sir Keir Starmer is close to prosecute with him, but wishes helium would beryllium tougher with Trump "on everything from tariffs to Vladimir Putin".
Please usage Chrome browser for a much accessible video player
Sir Ed pointed retired helium adjacent argued the UK should usage the connection of a authorities sojourn arsenic "leverage" to transportation Mr Trump "to bash the close thing".
He added: "Boycotting the authorities banquet is not thing I ever wanted to do, but I judge it is the lone mode I tin nonstop a connection to some Trump and Starmer that they cannot adjacent their eyes and privation this away."
Earlier this year, Sir Ed called Mr Trump a "bully" and accused him of "betraying Ukraine" and "selling out" the information of Europe.
Last year, aft Mr Trump won the election, Sir Ed called it a "dark, acheronian day" arsenic the US would beryllium led "by a dangerous, destructive demagogue".
Sir Ed is not the archetypal enactment person to garbage an invitation to a authorities meal with Mr Trump. Then-Lib Dem person Vince Cable, then-Labour person Jeremy Corbyn, then-SNP Westminster person Ian Blackford and erstwhile Speaker of the Commons John Bercow each boycotted the 2019 Trump authorities dinner.
English (US) ·