Ed Davey, leader of the UK Liberal Democrats and Member of Parliament for Kingston and Surbiton, has done something courageous. He expects he will skip the exclusive banquet when former U.S. President Donald Trump visits Windsor in July. This decision should not stop there, from just being a personal choice. Even more importantly, it boldly challenges Trump’s policies and actions, particularly at the International Humanitarian front.
Davey’s refusal to partake in the Windsor event stems from his strong opposition to Trump’s handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He criticized Trump for failing to alleviate the suffering of thousands affected by starvation and for prioritizing business deals with authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu over humanitarian concerns. In his opinion, that kind of behavior by Trump is indicative of an unfortunate trend of ignoring human rights.
Support for Davey’s decision has emerged among various political circles, with many agreeing that his stand sends a clear message that the United Kingdom does not endorse Trump’s approach. Yet many commentators seem to believe that this gesture represents a laudable opportunity for political leaders to demonstrate their integrity. Priti Patel, the hard-right, leading figure in Boris Johnson’s Conservative Cabinet, derided it as “one step above a tweet.”
This is what many of Davey’s constituents and all members of the public would prefer. They recognize the value in taking a stand against things they see as damaging policies even when it’s controversial. Our recent polling data suggests that as many as 35% of Liberal Democrat voters may not recognise who Davey is. Of those who do acknowledge him, many applaud his brassiness for going after Trump so brazenly.
Davey has articulated that he would consider attending the banquet if Trump were to halt military actions in Gaza and facilitate the flow of aid to those in need. He’s looking forward to participating in the planned protests outside the event. He thinks that political leaders need to have the courage to do what is right, even in a crisis.