Marina Hyde’s article in which she comments on Ed Davey’s decision to boycott the king’s banquet fiasco for Trump (Boycott the banquet, send a tweet. But ending the horror in Gaza still relies on the worst people in the world, 29 August) is puzzling. On the one hand Marina, quite rightly, went to town on the 222 days of Trump’s presidency, castigating him for failing to fulfil his 53 promises to stop the Ukraine war. Yet when an MP, Davey, who is in a position to make an impact, decides to make a stand, albeit on his lonesome, she says the gesture “feels one rung above a tweet”. Clever and witty for sure, but I believe that Davey’s intentions are sincere and well-intentioned.
I suspect that this “gesture” would be supported by the majority of his constituents, the Lib Dem voters (including the 35% who wouldn’t recognise him) and, indeed, a high proportion of the general public. I wonder, if more of his parliamentary colleagues (from all political shades) had joined him in the boycott, would his efforts have been dismissed?
We’re in a dangerous and hopeless place if we stop believing that we can effect change, however small and seemingly insignificant our efforts are. Voters are frustrated that very few of our elected members are voicing the views of the electorate, particularly with regard to the current parlous state of world affairs.
If we are to believe Jonathan Freedland’s convincing thesis (Step back and take it in: the US is entering full authoritarian mode, 29 August), then boycotting Trump at every possible opportunity seems a good way to send a clear message that, here in the UK, we neither support nor wish to be complicit in Trump’s relentless march towards global domination.
Tom Bradley
Raynes Park, London
• On the matter of the effectiveness of Ed Davey junking his banquet invitation to the Windsor Trumpfest, as gestures go, it’s much better than a tweet. It’s much more pointed than even a newspaper column.
Why would he want to go? The best-fed of our society are getting together to honour the man who has failed to stop the starvation in Gaza – by holding a banquet. It’s an obscene, integrity-free event. Those who do attend will have something to live down for the rest of their lives.
Of course, Priti Patel was among the unprincipled to complain about him “disrespecting the king” by not accepting. The only person disrespecting the king is Keir Starmer, for putting Charles through it for a second time.
Still, it’s a transactional world we live in today. If President Trump manages to impose a halt on the Israeli venture into Gaza and a full complement of aid is flowing by the time of the banquet, I’m sure that Ed would be happy to turn up, have dinner and even offer praise. Trump likes that; we’ve all seen the video of his latest cabinet meeting.
Will Haines
Hook, Hampshire
• Thank God for Ed Davey. If only our other politicians had the same courage to stand up to Trump – a vain man who puts business deals with dictators such as Putin and Netanyahu above the suffering of thousands of people. Instead of feeling pride in the actions of Starmer and his government, we are condemned to witness the continual, sickening, fawning of Trump by those who are incapable of doing the right thing. I shall, however, be going to the banquet: to protest against Trump, but outside.
Alice Tomlinson
Hastings, East Sussex
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