Editing Ed Davey (section)

==Political positions==
[[File:Ed Davey Bournemouth 2017 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Davey addressing the 2017 Liberal Democrat Conference]]
Davey identifies as a [[Liberalism|liberal]] politically, telling the ''[[Total Politics]]'' magazine: "I personally think liberalism is the strongest political philosophy in the modern world. [[Socialism]] has failed. I think even [[social democracy]], the watered down version which Labour sort of understand depending on which day of the week it is, is not very convincing, and I don't really understand where the Conservatives are coming from because they have so many philosophies within one party. There's no philosophy of the modern Conservative Party."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/interview/all-hands-decc-ed-davey-interview|title=All hands on DECC: Ed Davey interview|date=25 April 2014|work=TotalPolitics.com|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040543/https://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/interview/all-hands-decc-ed-davey-interview|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He has said that he believes "in the [[free market]] and in [[Competition (economics)|competition]]",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/test/cm110405/halltext/110405h0002.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 05 Apr 2011 (pt 0002)|last=Westminster|first=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033702/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/test/cm110405/halltext/110405h0002.htm|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and during a parliamentary [[public bill committee]] debate in November 2010 argued in defence of [[privatisation]], [[deregulation]], and the [[private sector]] against Labour MP [[Gregg McClymont]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmpublic/postalserv/101130/pm/101130s01.htm|title=House of Commons Public Bill Committee : Postal Services Bill|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042632/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmpublic/postalserv/101130/pm/101130s01.htm|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Davey describes himself as "an [[economist]] by trade."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/edward-davey-delivers-the-dudley-newitt-lecture-on-the-energy-challenge|title=Edward Davey delivers the Dudley Newitt Lecture on the Energy Challenge|work=GOV.UK|access-date=19 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620024526/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/edward-davey-delivers-the-dudley-newitt-lecture-on-the-energy-challenge|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a supporter of the coalition government, writing in a 2011 column for London newspaper ''Get West London'' that the coalition would "restore [[liberty]] to the people" and that "Labour's [[nanny state]] will be cut back" in reference to the coalition's policies on civil liberties.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/ed-davey-mp-coalition-restore-5987803|title=Ed Davey MP: Coalition will restore liberty to the people|last=GetWestLondon|date=7 March 2011|work=getwestlondon|access-date=10 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210123604/http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/ed-davey-mp-coalition-restore-5987803|archive-date=10 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Davey predicted the coalition government would be more [[pro-European Union]] than [[Tony Blair]]'s Labour government, praising Conservative ministers and the then Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] for relations they had developed with European counterparts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/ed-davey-pro-european-coalition|title=Ed Davey: this is a pro-European coalition|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=4 April 2012 |access-date=3 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503180321/https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/ed-davey-pro-european-coalition|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Retrospectively, Davey said of the coalition in 2017: "I think the coalition government, when history looks at it, will go down as actually a pretty good government."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/ed-davey-boris-johnson-has-betrayed-his-country|title=Ed Davey: Boris Johnson "has betrayed his country"|last=Dean|first=Alex|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215143503/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/ed-davey-boris-johnson-has-betrayed-his-country|archive-date=15 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Ed Davey MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary (4403631485).jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.75|Davey in 2010]]
In 2017, Davey warned against a Conservative Party proposal for fines on large internet companies who fail to remove extremist and terrorist material from their platforms within 24 hours, which he claimed could lead to censorship if companies are forced to rush to remove such material and pointed to Germany as an example of where this approach has the potential to lead to censorship.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/treating-tech-giants-like-the-enemy-won-t-help-fight-extremism-bh59v22pz|title=Treating tech giants like the enemy won't help fight extremism|last=Davey|first=Ed|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=6 October 2017|access-date=2 May 2018|issn=0140-0460|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503114415/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/treating-tech-giants-like-the-enemy-won-t-help-fight-extremism-bh59v22pz|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He thinks [[Big Tech|technology giants]] must not be treated as the "enemy" and accused the Conservatives of declaring an "all-out war" on the internet.<ref name=":3" /> Similarly he is critical of Conservative proposals to weaken [[Encryption software|encryption]] because, according to Davey, encryption is important for individual security and helping businesses to thrive.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/amber-rudd-conservative-conference-extremist-content-crack-down-enemies-a7981251.html|title=Amber Rudd is making enemies in the tech sector|date=3 October 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=3 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503125542/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/amber-rudd-conservative-conference-extremist-content-crack-down-enemies-a7981251.html|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, after the government's [[Investigatory Powers Act]] mass surveillance law was declared to be in breach of EU law, Davey commented that UK surveillance needed a "major overhaul" which puts "our freedoms and civil liberties at its very core" Davey's party opposes the mass surveillance law and had voted against it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-30/u-k-breached-eu-law-with-internet-spying-london-court-rules|title=U.K. Breached EU Law With Internet Spying, Court Rules|work=Bloomberg.com|access-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503214243/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-30/u-k-breached-eu-law-with-internet-spying-london-court-rules|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/15/delay-investigatory-powers-bill-scrutiny-mps-second-reading-firms-campaigners|title='Snooper's charter': Theresa May faces calls to improve bill to protect privacy|last1=Mason|first1=Rowena|last2=Asthana|first2=Anushka|date=15 March 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=2 May 2018|last3=Travis|first3=Alan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504010711/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/15/delay-investigatory-powers-bill-scrutiny-mps-second-reading-firms-campaigners|archive-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Davey is supportive of [[Market economy|market solutions]] in the conventional energy sector, ''[[The Guardian]]'' describing him as a 'zealot' for markets. He has been highly critical of [[price controls]] such as those proposed by former Labour leader [[Ed Miliband]]; he considers them to be detrimental to [[Competition (economics)|competition]] and lowering prices for consumers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/25/ed-davey-interview-renewable-energy|title=Ed Davey interview: 'I'm not going to give up on renewable energy'|last=Rustin|first=Susanna|date=25 October 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 November 2017|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131921/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/oct/25/ed-davey-interview-renewable-energy|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/ed-davey-interview-bring-me-sunshine|title=Ed Davey interview: bring me sunshine|last=Elwes|first=Jay|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620052543/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/ed-davey-interview-bring-me-sunshine|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> He has promoted removal of [[Barriers to entry#Examples|barriers to entry]] to encourage new entrants into the energy market; "We began with [[deregulation]]. This stimulated a doubling of smaller firms" he wrote of his policy as Energy Secretary in 2014.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/12/coalition-energy-market-reforms-cheaper-power |title=Coalition energy market reforms will bring cheaper power to the people {{!}} Ed Davey |last=Davey |first=Ed |date=12 January 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706162324/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/12/coalition-energy-market-reforms-cheaper-power|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, he welcomed the rise of [[consumer switching]] websites.<ref name=":4" /> He has, however, supported "properly designed and carefully targeted" short-term subsidies for some emerging [[Renewable energy|green energy technologies]] in order to meet climate change targets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/edward-davey-speech-to-the-global-offshore-wind-conference|title=Edward Davey speech to the Global Offshore Wind Conference – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|date=14 June 2012 |access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201055837/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/edward-davey-speech-to-the-global-offshore-wind-conference|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

When cutting green [[energy subsidies]] as Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Davey said he "tended to try and marketise the reduction so people were competing for any remaining subsidies" through [[Contracts for difference]] (CfDs).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/other/rise-of-the-renewables|title=Rise of the renewables|last=Abdoh|first=Saskia|access-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706104113/https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/other/rise-of-the-renewables|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> After leaving the office of Energy Secretary in 2015 he explained that he had planned to "eliminate subsidies over the coming years"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mongoose.energy/ed-davey-on-the-future-of-community-energy-and-renewables/|title=Sir Ed Davey on the Future of Community Energy|date=7 December 2015|work=Mongoose Energy|access-date=19 June 2018}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> and had previously stated, "ultimately I don't want the government—the Secretary of State—to decide what that [[Low-carbon power|low carbon]] mix is . . . I want the markets and technology development and innovation to decide what that mix is."<ref name=":1" />

He has argued in favour of both [[nuclear power]] and [[fracking]] as potential energy sources,<ref>{{cite news|title=Fracking is 'not evil', says Ed Davey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/05/fracking-not-evil-ed-davey |url-status=live |work=The Guardian |agency=Press Association |date=5 September 2013 |access-date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131840/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/05/fracking-not-evil-ed-davey|archive-date=1 December 2017|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24100833|title=Lib Dem vote backs nuclear power|date=15 September 2013|work=BBC News|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104093701/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24100833|archive-date=4 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and natural gases as [[Energy transition|transitional fuels]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/09/fracking-shale-gas-ed-davey-climate-change|title=Fracking won't endanger UK's climate targets, says Ed Davey|last=Vaughan|first=Adam|date=9 September 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706132534/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/09/fracking-shale-gas-ed-davey-climate-change|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> though he has warned that there should not be an over-reliance on them.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gosden |first=Emily |title=Ed Davey: 'Crazy' Conservatives would 'frack every bit of croquet lawn' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/fracking/11453359/Ed-Davey-Crazy-Conservatives-would-frack-every-bit-of-croquet-lawn.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 March 2015|access-date=18 November 2017|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203135151/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/energy/fracking/11453359/Ed-Davey-Crazy-Conservatives-would-frack-every-bit-of-croquet-lawn.html|archive-date=3 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/16/nuclear-power-plants-lib-dems-vince-cable-wind-energy|title=Nuclear power plants may not keep Britain's lights on, say Lib Dems|last1=Vaughan|first1=Adam|date=16 September 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 November 2017|last2=Elgot|first2=Jessica|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201080935/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/16/nuclear-power-plants-lib-dems-vince-cable-wind-energy|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Ed Davey Peoples Vote Rally 2019.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Davey at the [[People's Vote]] Rally 2019]]Davey has previously argued against nuclear power but in 2013 he urged fellow Liberal Democrat members to support nuclear power, stating, "I've changed my mind because of [[climate change]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/15/liberal-democrats-vote-accept-nuclear-power|title=Lib Dems vote to accept nuclear power|last=Mason|first=Rowena|date=15 September 2013|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118122615/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/15/liberal-democrats-vote-accept-nuclear-power|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Davey does not support the United Kingdom rejoining the European Union in the short term, in 2020 stating that the idea that people would want to consider re-joining the EU in two or three years' time as "being for the birds".<ref>{{cite news|date=6 September 2020|first=Jon|last=Stone|work=The Independent|title=Brexit: Lib Dems won't campaign to rejoin EU, signals new leader Ed Davey|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-liberal-democrats-eu-ed-davey-europe-b404557.html|access-date=7 September 2020|archive-date=6 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906200504/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-liberal-democrats-eu-ed-davey-europe-b404557.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=5 September 2020|first=Jonathon|last=Read|work=The New European|title=Ed Davey says Lib Dems will not campaign for UK to rejoin EU but will call for closer ties|url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/ed-davey-on-lib-dems-and-brexit-1-6823194|access-date=7 September 2020|archive-date=6 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906074837/https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/ed-davey-on-lib-dems-and-brexit-1-6823194|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2021 he clarified this position, stating that he is "determined the Liberal Democrats remain a pro-European party committed to the UK being members of the European Union again", adding that his party is "practical" about the matter.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davey|first=Ed|date=20 January 2021|title=The Liberal Democrats are the most pro-European party in British Politics|url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/most-pro-european-party|access-date=9 July 2021|website=Liberal Democrats|archive-date=16 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616135732/https://www.libdems.org.uk/most-pro-european-party|url-status=live}}</ref>
Davey opposes a [[proposed second Scottish independence referendum|second Scottish independence referendum]] arguing in 2022, that it would be "damaging to recovery."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/national/19272069.sir-ed-davey-mood-change-among-scottish-voters-may-see-lib-dem-gains/ | title=Sir ed Davey: Mood change among Scottish voters may see Lib dem gains | date=30 April 2021 }}</ref>

Following the [[murder of Sarah Everard]] in March 2021, Davey said that "Men have got to change" and suggested that we "educate boys and men to show more respect".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Jonathan |title=Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey says 'men have got to change' to create a safer society |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/liberal-democrat-leader-ed-davey-20187012 |access-date=20 May 2021 |work=Birmingham Live |date=17 March 2021 |archive-date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520150912/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/liberal-democrat-leader-ed-davey-20187012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2021, alongside celebrities and other public figures, Davey was a signatory to an open letter from [[Stylist (magazine)|''Stylist'']] magazine which called on the government to address what it described as an "epidemic of male violence" by funding an "ongoing, high-profile, expert-informed awareness campaign on men's violence against women and girls".<ref>{{cite news |title="We're calling on you to act now": read Stylist's open letter to Priti Patel about ending male violence against women and girls |url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/health/women/open-letter-priti-patel-violence-women-girls/520846 |access-date=20 May 2021 |work=Stylist |archive-date=20 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520144455/https://www.stylist.co.uk/health/women/open-letter-priti-patel-violence-women-girls/520846 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A supporter of transgender rights, Davey believes that [[Trans woman|transgender women]] should be given the same rights as cisgender women, which he made clear in a series of interviews on the day that a report into violence against women, commissioned in the wake of the Everard's murder, was published.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marr |first1=Andrew |title=Sir Ed Davey on the Liberal Democrats polling, trans rights, and vaccine passports |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09wd8rj |work=The Andrew Marr Show |access-date=8 November 2021 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108155025/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09wd8rj |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Merrick |first1=Rob |title=Trans women should be allowed in all public places, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey says |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/trans-women-lib-dem-ed-davey-b1921898.html |access-date=8 November 2021 |work=The Independent |date=17 September 2021 |archive-date=5 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705142320/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/trans-women-lib-dem-ed-davey-b1921898.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tara |first1=John |title=Anti-trans rhetoric is rife in the British media. Little is being done to extinguish the flames |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/09/uk/uk-trans-rights-gender-critical-media-intl-gbr-cmd/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=8 November 2021 |archive-date=26 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126125139/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/09/uk/uk-trans-rights-gender-critical-media-intl-gbr-cmd/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Davey criticised [[Boris Johnson]] after the [[2021 North Shropshire by-election]] where a Lib Dem candidate, [[Helen Morgan (politician)|Helen Morgan]] overturned a Conservative majority of nearly 23,000 to win the seat. Davey said it was a "watershed moment in our politics. Millions of people are fed up with Boris Johnson and his failure to provide leadership throughout the pandemic and last night the voters of North Shropshire spoke for all of them."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-59693102 |title=Tories lose North Shropshire seat they held for nearly 200 years |date=17 December 2021 |work=BBC News |access-date=17 December 2021 |archive-date=17 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217084843/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-59693102 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Responding to [[Keir Starmer]] and [[Rachel Reeves]]' [[October 2024 United Kingdom budget|first budget in October 2024]], Davey described the government's plans on social care as “a good start” but inadequate. He also said that he thought that the budget may not offer British people "a sense of hope, urgency and the promise of a fair deal" and that more could have been done to help the more vulnerable people in society.<ref>{{cite news |title=Budget 2024 live: Rachel Reeves raises taxes by £40bn, with businesses paying more than half |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp9zrg128get?post=asset:4ea906e1-fc62-4be1-82b7-936446c93a10 |website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Harding |first=LaToya |date=30 October 2024 |title=Reeves announces £40bn tax hike in UK budget |url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/live/budget-2024-live-rachel-reeves-tax-debt-speech-093720254.html |access-date=1 November 2024 |website=[[Yahoo Finance]]}}</ref> In October 2024, Davey said he was “very minded” to vote against the [[Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill]] to legalise [[Assisted suicide in the United Kingdom|assisted dying]] for [[terminally ill]] adults, saying the UK should “do much better” on palliative care.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Francis |first1=Sam |last2=Catt |first2=Helen |date=31 October 2024 |title=Ed Davey 'minded' to vote against assisted dying bill |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1knmkxzryjo |access-date=1 November 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

=== Foreign affairs ===
Since the 2000s, Davey has been vocal on the issue of [[detention without trial]], in particular [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp|Guantanamo]] and [[Bagram torture and prisoner abuse|Bagram]], which he believed required transparency and formal investigation of [[torture]] allegations.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=21 January 2007 |title=MP urges action on Guantanamo detainee |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-guantanamo/legislator-urges-uk-action-on-guantanamo-detainee-idUKL0889994520070109 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706104310/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-guantanamo/legislator-urges-uk-action-on-guantanamo-detainee-idUKL0889994520070109 |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=6 July 2018 |work=Reuters}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Edward |date=17 August 2009 |title=End the rendition cover-up Edward Davey |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/aug/17/rendition-afghanistan-bagram-torture |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706190750/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/aug/17/rendition-afghanistan-bagram-torture |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=6 July 2018 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Blair urged to fight for Guantanamo detainee |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/blair-urged-to-fight-for-guantanamo-detainee-7210660.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706134010/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/blair-urged-to-fight-for-guantanamo-detainee-7210660.html |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=6 July 2018 |work=Evening Standard}}</ref> He has opposed indefinite detention for illegal immigrants.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Diane |date=10 October 2017 |title=Torture victims were wrongly imprisoned in UK, high court rules |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/10/torture-victims-were-wrongly-imprisoned-in-uk-high-court-rules |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706121826/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/10/torture-victims-were-wrongly-imprisoned-in-uk-high-court-rules |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=6 July 2018 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

Davey has been in support of trade to import [[natural gas]] from countries including the United States and [[Qatar]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Centrica buys 20 years of gas supplies from the US as cold weather |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/centrica-buys-20-years-of-gas-supplies-from-the-us-as-cold-weather-and-snow-continue-to-disrupt-8548569.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706161756/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/centrica-buys-20-years-of-gas-supplies-from-the-us-as-cold-weather-and-snow-continue-to-disrupt-8548569.html |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=5 July 2018 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Vukmanovic |first=Oleg |date=8 October 2012 |title=Britain's gas supply prey to Qatar marketing strategy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-energy-gas-britain-qatar/britains-gas-supply-prey-to-qatar-marketing-strategy-idUSBRE8970J220121008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706112530/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-energy-gas-britain-qatar/britains-gas-supply-prey-to-qatar-marketing-strategy-idUSBRE8970J220121008 |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=5 July 2018 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> and importation of green energy via new [[interconnector]]s from [[Norway]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Moylan |first=John |date=26 March 2015 |title=Norwegian green energy to power UK |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-32067675 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718064609/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-32067675 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |access-date=5 July 2018 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Smyth |first=Jamie |date=20 September 2012 |title=Irish Sea green power link goes live |url=https://www.ft.com/content/77897508-0322-11e2-a484-00144feabdc0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706161854/https://www.ft.com/content/77897508-0322-11e2-a484-00144feabdc0 |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=5 July 2018 |website=Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Energy trading creates opportunities for Ireland & UK – Davey & Rabbitte |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/energy-trading-creates-opportunities-for-ireland-uk-davey-rabbitte |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706104155/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/energy-trading-creates-opportunities-for-ireland-uk-davey-rabbitte |archive-date=6 July 2018 |access-date=5 July 2018 |work=GOV.UK}}</ref> Davey describes himself as a "strong free-trader", rejecting reciprocity in trade tariffs as "the classic protectionist argument". He believes Britain should be open to foreign investment, except for investment tainted by "smells that you have from [[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]."<ref name=":1" /> He dismisses worries over foreign ownership and investment in the British economy such as that of French and [[Chinese companies]]' involvement in the British energy market.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.K.'s Davey Rebuffs Fears on Chinese Nuclear Investment |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-21/u-k-s-davey-rebuffs-fears-on-chinese-nuclear-investment |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503215801/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-21/u-k-s-davey-rebuffs-fears-on-chinese-nuclear-investment |archive-date=3 May 2018 |access-date=3 May 2018 |work=Bloomberg.com}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In November 2023, Davey expressed support for a ceasefire in the [[Gaza Strip]] following the [[Gaza war]], saying that "it is increasingly clear that a military solution to eliminate [[Hamas]] is not possible. With a devastating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, an ongoing hostage situation, and growing risk of regional escalation, we must urgently demand a different approach."<ref>{{cite news |title=Liberal Democrats call for 'immediate bilateral ceasefire' in Israel-Hamas war |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dems-gaza-ceasefire-israel-b2446158.html |work=The Independent |date=13 November 2023 |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107104737/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-davey-lib-dems-gaza-ceasefire-israel-b2446158.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the [[attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania]], Davey said "Political violence is wrong... We must all condemn this appalling attempt on [[Donald Trump]]'s life."<ref>{{cite web |date=14 July 2024 |title=Politicians react with shock to attack on Donald Trump |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czd9jej784do |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=BBC News }}</ref> However, after Trump won the [[2024 United States presidential election]], Davey said it was a “dark, dark day for people around the globe”, branded Trump a "dangerous, destructive demagogue", and said that Trump "actively undermines the rule of law, human rights, international trade, climate action and global security."<ref>{{cite web |last=Burford |first=Rachael |date=7 November 2024 |title=Trump branded 'dangerous, destructive demagogue' by Lib Dem leader |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/lib-dem-leader-ed-davey-donald-trump-dangerous-us-election-win-b1192368.html |access-date=27 November 2024 |website=The Standard }}</ref>