Steven Kay of 9BR Chambers has suggested that the UK could play a role in brokering a peace and unification conference in Libya. This proposal follows a report by Patrick Wintour on 3 October, which detailed Libyan unity talks being disrupted after a warlord's son was linked to drone attacks on fuel facilities.
Kay stated that Saddam Haftar, like his father Khalifa, has been backed by the US to support its aims in Libya. He argued that backing a member of the Haftar clan is illogical if democratic elections are the goal for Libya's future.
According to Kay, representations from Libya, detailed in a 9BR Chambers report titled 'Libya: The Voice of the Tribes', have offered both current and previous UK governments, along with successive ambassadors to Libya, a role in facilitating such a conference. This would involve the UK formally issuing visas and inviting political leaders and legitimate military commanders from both east and west Libya.
Kay noted that neither Conservative nor Labour governments have taken up this offer, suggesting a lack of confidence to act contrary to US policies. He believes that independent UK action, consistent with its status as a UN security council member, would counter perceptions of it being a declining power and offer trade benefits through assisting in Libya's economic reconstruction.