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Austen Morgan: How to use the law to save the Diego Garcia base from Starmer’s bad Chagos deal

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Austen Morgan: How to use the law to save the Diego Garcia base from Starmer's bad Chagos deal

Dr Austen Morgan is a barrister at 33 Bedford Row Chambers.  He is the author of: Pretence: why the United Kingdom needs a written constitution, London 2023.

With US launching attacks on Iran, the crisis over Diego Garcia – the formally joint UK/US military base on the Chagos Archipelago, part of our overseas territory or colony (the British Indian Ocean Territory [‘BIOT’] established in 1965) – is becoming global.

The argument over Britain not allowing its use to the US for the initial airstrikes last weekend has amplified it.

When the UK granted Mauritius its independence eventually in 1968, the country’s leaders – in return for financial payments – agreed to the hiving off of BIOT.  That did not stop Mauritius’s later leaders playing the decolonization card: the February 2019 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (which did not bind the UK); and the May 2019 resolution of the UN general assembly (which is not part of international law).

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Prof Philippe Sands KC of Matrix chambers represented Mauritius over the years.  His head of chambers became Richard Hermer KC, now the attorney general.  And the latter had been led, at Doughty Street chambers, by Keir Starmer KC, the just about hanging on prime minister.  These three musketeers share a – incorrect – view of the rule of law as dominated by  international lawyers and judges.

It was the labour government of Harold Wilson which ordered the expulsion of the Chagossians from the Archipelago (1968-73), to the Seychelles and to Mauritius, where they were treated badly (as I learned on a visit in 2023).  Many of the Mauritian Chagossians now live as British citizens in Crawley, near Gatwick.

Supporters of the Chagossians, those who believe in the rule of law, and those concerned with international security (particularly the threat of growing Chinese influence in Mauritius), have had to contend with Jonathan Powell, now the national security adviser in the cabinet office, and a Sinophile, the architect of the May 2025 – leaseback – UK/Mauritius treaty, which is mercifully well and truly stalled in parliament.

Faced with a fickle and unpredictable Donald Trump, who is being pushed hither and thither whilst pushing back himself, opponents of the current labour government’s Chagos sellout would be advised to concentrate upon three legal issues.

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First, the direct action by Misley Mandarin, the unrecognized first minister of the Chagos, in settling on L’Île du Coin (120 miles from Diego Garcia).  Sir Keir issued a removal notice within 24 hours, and the Chagossians secured an interim injunction from the BIOT chief justice, James Lewis KC, a London barrister.

A claim is waiting to be made in the administrative court in London, against the second threatened expulsion of Misley Mandarin’s elderly father, under whatever basis the government is relying.  This will involve questions of international law, turning on the British passports of the occupying Chagossians on sovereign UK territory.

Second, the 1966 US/UK agreement, which established the Diego Garcia base (and on which the UK must rely in an English court): including, in clause (2), ‘those administrative measures that may be necessary to enable any such defence requirement to be met’, subject to seemingly the duty of the commissioner of the territory to take account of ‘the welfare of the inhabitants’ but only ‘in emergency circumstances requiring temporary use of an island or part of an island’.

It is clause (1) which should interest the US the most: ‘The territory shall remain under United Kingdom sovereignty.’  That is what the UK promised in 1966.  And the US is entitled – under the 1969 Vienna convention on the law of treaties – to rely upon that permanent feature.

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President Trump, therefore, has to do nothing but rest on these legal laurels.  Under the Jonathan Powell scheme, he would have had to have agreed to delete clause (1) of the 1966 agreement.

And third – a point well spotted by English supporters of the Chagossians – the 1983 UN convention on the law of the sea (or ‘UNCLOS’).  In 2010, Philippe Sands had represented Mauritius in an arbitration against the UK’s marine protection area around the Chagos Archipelago.  He succeeded in part, but the award included that the arbitrators did not have the power under UNCLOS to determine sovereignty.

Nevertheless, when David Lammy, as our hapless foreign secretary, being forced to concede that the international court of justice had only produced an advisory opinion, the scare was raised about a second (hypothetical) judgment, from this time the international tribunal for the law of the sea.

Section 2 of UNCLOS defines the concepts limiting territorial seas.  But article 298 comprises ‘optional exceptions to applicability of section 2’.  Paragraph 1 reads: ‘When signing, ratifying or acceding to this Convention or at any time thereafter, a State may, without prejudice to the obligations arising under section 1, declare in writing that it does not accept any one or more of the procedures provided for in section 2 with respect to one or more of the following categories of disputes’.

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Sub-paragraph (b) includes ‘disputes concerning military activities, including military activities by government vessels and aircraft engaged in non-commercial services…’.

In conclusion, the focus should be on legally challenging the second labour expulsion of the Chagossians.  And, as regarding the ninnies in our foreign policy establishment (frightened no doubt by the seemingly all powerful attorney general), the UK should execute a declaration that the joint Diego Garcia military base does not fall under UNCLOS.

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David Buck: On SEN, Phillipson has become the Secretary of State for re-fried bean counters

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David Buck: On SEN, Phillipson has become the Secretary of State for re-fried bean counters

Dr David Buck C.Psychol AFBPsS is an Independent Consultant Educational Psychologist and a former SEN Ofsted Inspector.

Bridget Phillipson’s latest announcement on Special Educational Needs (SENs) is being billed as bold reform.

In reality, it is a weary rehash of old ideas dressed up as a “once in a generation opportunity”.  The Education Secretary’s central claim is that spiraling demand for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) must be curbed by reserving them for children with the most “complex” needs. Yet EHCPs are now the only robust legal protection for SEN provision beyond the discretion of schools and local authorities. To shrink access to them is not reform. It is retrenchment.

Her language of “over-demand” from parents and schools will be familiar to anyone who has followed this debate over the past four decades. So, too, will her rhetoric of “inclusion”.

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Inclusion is not new

The push to integrate children with SEN into mainstream schools did not begin in 2026. It began in earnest with the Warnock Report 1978, which reshaped the language and philosophy of special needs provision. It drew upon American developments such as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, which mandated special education in the “least restrictive environment”  signed off in 1975 it somewhat pre-dates Phillipson’s current enthusiasm for “inclusion”.  All her proposals are presented as novel whilst successive British statutes have already embedded the principles:  The Education Act 1981 introduced the concept of special educational needs and the Statementing process, with a preference for mainstream schooling wherever possible. The Education Act 1993 created SEN coordinators (SENCOs) and a Tribunal system. The Education Act 1996 consolidated earlier provisions. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 strengthened the right to ‘mainstream’ education and extended disability discrimination law to schools. The Equality Act 2010 required “reasonable adjustments” for disabled pupils. Finally, the Children and Families Act 2014 replaced Statements of SEN (SSEN) with EHCPs and extended support to age 25, mandating cooperation between education, health and social care services.

“Inclusion” is therefore not an innovation. It is already deeply embedded in law. The suggestion that today’s difficulties stem from a failure to embrace it is implausible. The problem is not philosophy but funding.

More troubling still is the new emphasis on “complexity” as the gatekeeper for legal protection. Complexity is not a reliable proxy for severity or urgency. A profoundly deaf child, a pupil with severe ADHD, or one with acute language disorder may have only a single, clearly defined need — but an urgent one, nevertheless. To imply that only the multiply diagnosed merit enforceable provision is to redefine need downwards.

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We have seen this type of manoeuvre many times before e.g. “Care in the community” once accompanied cuts to institutional provision. Now “inclusion” risks becoming the rhetorical cover for narrowing statutory entitlement for SENs.

Individual Support Plans: re-heated

Phillipson’s other flagship proposal — Individual Support Plans (ISPs) — is presented as fresh thinking. It is simply not so. Before 2014, similar staged interventions were standard practice as a prelude to statutory assessment and Statements of SEN.

The old three stage model worked roughly as follows. At classroom level, teachers ‘differentiated’ their course content for the substantial minority (20%) identified since Warnock as having learning difficulties. If progress lagged, an individual education plan (IEP) was written by the class teacher and delivered with teaching assistant support. If that proved insufficient, further IEPs incorporated input from external professionals. Only after these three stages — often spanning several terms — would a statutory assessment be triggered, potentially leading to a Statement and the legal protections that followed.

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Parents frequently experienced this as delay. Teachers, burdened by time and training constraints, often preferred swift progression to a Statement that would bring ring-fenced funding. SENCOs had to ration scarce support hours across Stages 2&3. Headteachers balanced training costs against the financial implications of rising Statements for which they would expect additional budgetary support. Local authorities (LAs), for their part, funded earlier-stage interventions while exercising bureaucratic caution over expensive statutory assessments — yet also used rising Statement numbers to argue for larger budgets from central government.

In other words, every actor operated within differing financial incentives that shaped their behaviour. Rebranding these stages as ISPs will not change those incentives. Without serious investment in training and staffing — and without legal enforceability — ISPs will once again be seen, like IEPs, as hurdles to clear on the way to guaranteed provision.

The cycle repeats

In 2014, Statements were abolished and EHCPs introduced, partly in response to frustration about delay and bureaucracy. Now EHCPs are blamed rather than SSENs for generating delay and over-demand. But demand rises for a simple reason: they work! They are the only mechanisms that guarantee additional resources with a right of tribunal appeal, just like SSENs

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If IEPs are revived as ISPs chiefly to reduce EHCP numbers, history will repeat itself. Schools and parents will still seek the only secure route to provision. The terminology will change; the incentives will not.  Phillipson cannot be unaware of this. The profession understands it well. What is cynical is to present underfunded consultation plans as reform while quietly tightening access to the only legally enforceable safeguard.

Phillipson’s strategic use of “complexity” will not solve the problem either. If anything, it will intensify the medicalisation of educational need. When legal protection hinges on multi-layered diagnoses, categories with recognised “co-morbidities” will expand. Autistic Spectrum diagnoses, already associated with anxiety (40-55 per cent), depression (10-20 per cent), ADHD (30-70 per cent) and epilepsy (up to 45 per cent), will become more attractive gateways to protection. The cost implications will show a familiar asymmetry by falling primarily on education budgets, not health.

Meanwhile, the genuinely complex group — pre-school and early years children whose needs span multiple agencies — remains persistently under-resourced.  ‘StartRight’ early intervention services and ‘Portage’ home-visiting provision have withered in practice. The families of this group lack the organised lobbying power of older cohorts, just as the elderly are easy to overlook, such groups lack a collective, cohesive voice and therefore become fair game for cuts.

A question of candour

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If the objective here is genuinely to meet SENs, ministers must confront the funding gap openly. if the objective is to cut costs, they should say so.  Dressing reductions in the language of innovation and inclusion insults the intelligence of both parents and professionals alike.

EHCPs may be imperfect. But they represent the culmination of decades of legislative development designed to protect vulnerable pupils from the vagaries of local budget constraints and management. To reserve them for only an ill-defined elite of those with “complex” needs is to hollow out that protection.

Demand for EHCPs will remain as strong as demand once was for Statements, because families will always seek the only mechanism that carries legal force. Shift the language from “deficit” to “complexity”, and the system will adapt accordingly.

There is nothing “once in a generation” about this cycle. It is the familiar parade of reform without resources. If ministers wish to break it, they must address causes rather than redefine categories — and fund inclusion rather than merely invoke its promise.

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Reform are amassing foreign donors

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Reform are amassing foreign donors

On 5 March, the Electoral Commission published its records of political donations in the last quarter of 2025. And, surprise surprise, Reform UK has taken yet another massive crypto donation from Thai-based billionaire Christopher Harborne.

Last quarter’s £3m donation joins the record-breaking £9m that the cryptocurrency investor already gifted to the far-right party. Likewise, on top of the £3m, Reform also received a further £2.5m from other sources.

It appears the 1% know which way their bread is buttered.

Reform is in the pocket of the super rich

As the Independent pointed out, a great deal of Reform’s newfound fortune comes from former Tory donors fleeing Badenoch’s sinking ship:

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The latest register of donations, released on Thursday, also showed that more Tory donors are giving money to Reform UK. This included construction equipment firm JCB, which has previously backed the Conservatives but this time gave £200,000 to both Reform and the Tories.

Isabel Goldsmith, the sister of former Tory minister Zak Goldsmith, also gave Reform £100,000.

Former Tory donor and high-profile Reform defector Nick Candy, a property developer, donated £240,000 to the party.

Commenting on the massive donations, a spokesperson for the far-right party said:

These figures show the extraordinary momentum behind Reform UK. Raising more money than any other party in 2025 proves that people are backing the party to deliver real change.

That’s an awfully strange way of phrasing ‘we promised to be a good little lap-dog for the billionaires’.

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That £5.5m total puts Reform head and shoulders above any other party in terms of donations. For contrast, the Tories received £4.2m, the Lib Dems took almost £2.2m, and Labour were given £2m. Meanwhile, the Greens received just over £294k.

If you wanted a clearer demonstration of which parties are in the pockets of the super-rich (and which aren’t) – look no further.

Reform goes crypto

Speaking of shilling for the interests of the wealthy…

Back in May, Farage told the Las Vegas Bitcoin Conference that his party would launch a “crypto revolution”. On the same day, Reform announced that it would start accepting donations in crypto.

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Then, in the very next financial quarter, Harborne’s major £9m donation to Reform rolled in on 1 August. It was the largest ever gift from a private individual to a political party.

At the time, the Canary highlighted that Harborne also donated millions to the Brexit Party in 2019, as well as to the Conservatives between 2001 and 2022. While Harborne is British, he’s now based in Thailand.

Sky News spoke to political donation expert professor Justin Fisher, who told them:

It exposes the fact that this is a person who is a British citizen but is able to influence British politics without being subject to the laws that any Reform government might bring in, any tax arrangements that a Reform might bring in.

This is foreign money by any other name.

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When the crypto donation revelation surfaced, Farage insisted that Harbourne “wants nothing from me”.

Farage and the crypto lobby

Completely by coincidence, in January 2026, the Reform leader used his first ever meeting with Bank of England chief Andrew Bailey to shill for the crypto lobby.

The Reform leader reportedly criticised the Bank of England for imposing restrictions on cryptocurrencies. Instead, he urged that the UK follow Trump’s example in the US by lifting efforts to police crypto.

Likewise, he also tried to push one cryptocurrency – the Tether stablecoin, the value of which is pegged to the US dollar. In an interview with LBC Radio ahead of his first meeting with the Bank of England chief, Farage said:

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I’m going to go tomorrow to say this. You know, Tether is a stablecoin. Stablecoins are the way which money goes from conventional currencies through into cryptocurrencies and back again. Tether is about to be valued as a $500bn company.

And, as luck would have it, Christopher Harbourne also just happens to be a major shareholder in Tether. Funny that, isn’t it?

Reform are not a party of the common man. They are not a friend of the everyday resident of the UK just trying to get by. As their donation history – and Farage’s flip-flopping talking points – makes clear, the party is wrapped around the finger of anyone they think will launch them to power.

Featured image via the Canary

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Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Is Cillian Murphy’s Epic Return As Tommy Shelby

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Barry Keoghan plays Tommy Shelby's son.

Tommy Shelby is finally back on our screens after four years away. The long-awaited Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, is in select cinemas now (ahead of its arrival on Netflix on 20 March), and it ushers in a new chapter in the Shelby clan’s story.

As a long-time fan of the show, I had been a little worried that a movie may not have the same magic as the show did. But boy, was I wrong.

Steven Knight has created something incredibly special with this film. It’s everything that a fan of the show could want it to be, and even more. Personally, I’d give it five stars.

After all, is there anything more iconic than seeing Tommy Shelby back in his baker boy cap? I think not.

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The Immortal Man marks a new era for the Peaky Blinders

It all starts in Birmingham in 1940. The characters are in the midst of the Second World War, and the Peaky Blinders are working on one of their biggest plots yet, when chaos ensues.

Barry Keoghan plays Tommy Shelby's son.
Barry Keoghan plays Tommy Shelby’s son.

When the movie starts, Tommy has been in a self-imposed exile following the events of the show’s finale. In his absence, his grown-up son, Duke (played by new addition Barry Keoghan) has taken charge, and is doing things on his own terms, rather than what his father would have done.

However, this means he’s essentially running the Peaky Blinders into the ground, and when Tommy catches wind of the situation, he finds himself at a difficult crossroads – forced to choose between his exile and saving the family from destruction.

The on-screen chemistry between Barry and Cillian is immense. The casting here is absolutely perfect, and you’d be forgiven for thinking the two really are father and son, as they bounce off each other incredibly well. Barry truly understood the assignment – and slots right into the family.

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It is also just wonderful to see a new generation of Peaky Blinders in action, as they usher in a new era for the gang.

There’s plenty of nostalgia for Peaky Blinders fans

While there’s always a fear when a classic TV show gets a movie follow-up after it’s done that it won’t be able to live up to expectations, The Immortal Man more than does Peaky Blinders justice.

The film also contains so many elements of nostalgia for fans who have been there since season one, including a poignant nod to the late, great Helen McCrory.

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Another treat for Peaky Blinders fans is the return of Ada Shelby. Sophie Rundle is back as the level-headed sister, trying to make sure the Peaky Blinders don’t cause too much chaos (though unsurprisingly, she has little success on that front).

Ada Shelby is back and is trying to bring peace.
Ada Shelby is back and is trying to bring peace.

Over the course of the film, we also discover the fate of Tommy’s brother, Arthur Shelby. Fans of the show know how much of an important role he had to play in the gang, and it was interesting to see how the movie operated without him.

In many ways, The Immortal Man feels like an end of the road for the Peaky Blinders, but at the same time, it puts the characters in new situations and introduces a host of exciting newbies.

The film also ends in a way that means there could easily be a sequel that explores the next generation of the Peaky Blinders – although if this is really it, I’m happy to say that it’s a satisfying conclusion.

The soundtrack compliments the mood of the whole film

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The movie’s soundtrack is absolutely immense, and really enhances the epic visuals.

Grian Chatten, of Fontaines DC fame, has created new original songs for the film, and his haunting vocals are the perfect soundtrack to the moody backdrop and dark visuals. It’s an ideal pairing, and the music only enhances the atmosphere.

As it turns out, Cillian Murphy himself is also a huge Fontaines DC fan, even going as far as calling himself a “fanboy”. I can imagine that he’s thrilled that it all came together so well.

So, what’s the verdict?

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Overall, the film does a spectacular job of reviving these beloved characters, whilst also paying homage to the show we already know and love.

It’s the perfect way to pay respects to the television show, while also feeling like it can stand on its own two feet.

Diehard Peaky Blinders fans will no doubt love this project – but there’s enough drama, intensity and grit that even if you’ve never seen the show before, it’s still a hit. It will have you hooked and leave you wanting more.

By order of the Peaky Blinders, it gets a 5/5 from me.

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Trump Straight-Out Says Which Country He’s Targeting Next

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Trump Straight-Out Says Which Country He's Targeting Next

Cuba appears to be next on Donald Trump’s hit list.

The president appeared to suggest US-assisted regime change in the communist-run Caribbean island is on his agenda during a speech Thursday while hosting Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates at the White House to celebrate the club’s MLS Cup victory.

Trump began his remarks — with the players standing behind him — by giving an update on the Iran war.

While thanking the alleged “phenomenal people” involved in the military operations, Trump turned to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in the audience, to praise his “fantastic job” and also his “fantastic job on a place called Cuba.”

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Rubio’s parents fled Fidel Castro’s regime for America and he has been one of Washington’s most outspoken critics of the island’s leaders.

But what’s happening with Cuba is amazing. And we think that we want to fix, finish, this one first. But that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba. Hopefully not to stay. We want you back. And we don’t want to lose you. We don’t want to make it so nice that they stay. But some people probably do want to stay. They love Cuba so much. I hear it all the time. That was another one that wasn’t supposed to happen.

Later in the event, Trump congratulated Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas, also the son of Cuban immigrants, for his team’s victory and again returned to the subject of Cuba.

Trump told him he could soon be traveling back to the island.

“You’re going to go back,” said Trump. “Oh yeah. Yeah. It’s going to be — and you won’t need my approval. You just fly back in when — I can just see that. It’s going to be a great day, right? We’re going to celebrate that separately. We, I just want to wait a couple of weeks. I wanted to wait a couple of weeks, but we’ll be together again soon, I suspect, celebrating what’s going on in Cuba. They want to make a deal so badly, you have no idea.”

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Trump has previously floated the idea of a “friendly takeover” of the island amid mounting pressure from Washington for political change in the Cuban government.

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Quaker meeting stormed by Metropolitan Police

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Quaker meeting stormed by Metropolitan Police

On 5 March, last night, the London Metropolitan Police last night aided a Quaker meeting house, during a non-violence training session.

Violent raid on Quaker meeting

Fifteen people were arrested, one so traumatised that police had to call an ambulance.

Targeting sites of worship

It’s not the first time that the state’s enforcers have violently raided a house of worship. In March 2025, Met police officers armed with tasers smashed down the door of another Quaker meeting room. In that incident, their aim was to arrest six women planning a peaceful protest. The Met had made no attempt to enter peacefully by, say, ringing the bell before battering down the door.

Quakers are committed to justice and to non-violence. Their meeting houses are frequently booked by groups engaged in non-violent activism and protests, and regularly host discussions about state oppression and exploitation.

At that point, it was the first time in living memory that police had raided a Quaker house.

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Now it seems like it’s become a habit.

Featured image via the Canary

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Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling Share Rare PDA Moment On Jimmy Fallo

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Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling Share Rare PDA Moment On Jimmy Fallo

Over the course of their relationship, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes have become known as one of Hollywood’s most private couples, only ever making a handful of public appearances together and largely keeping their marriage out of the spotlight.

However, they made a rare exception on Thursday night, when the Oscar nominee surprised his wife with a very special birthday treat.

During an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Ryan pointed out that it was Eva’s birthday, and asked the studio audience if they’d mind “singing happy birthday” to the 2 Fast 2 Furious star, who happened to be backstage in the green room.

After sharing a special message to the teachers in the audience, a marching band then led the rendition of Happy Birthday To You, as the entire studio – including the host and her husband – joined in.

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Watch the very sweet moment for yourself below:

Ryan and Eva began dating in 2011, after meeting on the set of their film The Place Beyond The Pines.

At some point, the couple tied the knot, but kept it private from the media, with Eva joking during an Australian radio interview: “I like to keep it all mysterious. I’m a very mysterious woman.”

She later alluded to her marriage to Ryan when she showed off a “de Gosling” tattoo on her wrist, and later referred to her former co-star as her “husband” during an interview in 2022.

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The couple share two daughters, 11-year-old Esmeralda Amada and nine-year-old Amada Lee.

More recently, the couple have been a lot more open about their relationship, particularly during the promotion of Barbie in 2023.

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Lord Ashcroft: The hope within the crisis – my reflections from Beirut

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Lord Ashcroft: The hope within the crisis - my reflections from Beirut

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit lordashcroft.com

The Middle East is on fire again.

The United States has launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, identifying Tehran’s programme as an imminent threat to its security. Since then, the missiles and drones have been flying in all directions – from Israel’s and American assets into Iran, and in retaliation from Iran towards Israel and US-aligned Gulf states. In just seven days, the war has claimed thousands of lives in Iran and across the region. Lebanon too has suffered casualties, after Israel retaliated against Hezbollah – the Iran-backed militia group – following the group’s attack on the country on Sunday.

At the same time, Lebanon’s leadership has moved swiftly to curb Hezbollah’s independent military and security operations, accusing the group of dragging the country into a conflict it cannot afford. Hezbollah’s political arm, however, remains an active and influential part of Lebanon’s governing system.

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The situation in Lebanon is turbulent and violent, and yet there is still a genuine hope for change. That hope came evident when I was in Beirut two weeks ago on a mission as Honorary Chairman of the International Democracy Union, visiting one of our member parties – the Kataeb Party – and meeting leading figures in Lebanese politics and society.

Hope surfaced in many conversations, most palpably around economy. Lebanon has been emerging from an unprecedented financial collapse that began in 2019, culminating in a sovereign default and the near-total breakdown of its banking sector. Since then, the Lebanese pound has lost most of its value, and banks have effectively ceased normal operations, squeezing liquidity and trapping depositors’ savings for more than six years. There is cautious optimism that reform is now inevitable. The government advanced a draft ‘financial gap law’ that aims to distribute losses fairly and provide mechanisms for depositors to reclaim their savings over time. But this process will be painful – many Lebanese have already seen their life savings evaporate. Meaningful International Monetary Fund engagement will also require a structural reform, including down-sizing public sector and enhancing financial transparency.

I saw hope with many Lebanese expats returning to their homeland to serve in rebuilding their country anew. I met with at least three accomplished individuals – leaders in business, academia and public service – who have sacrificed comfort abroad to contribute to Lebanon’s renewal. Their belief in the country’s future was humbling.

There was also hope that with Hezbollah’s recent decapitation and significant weakening by the Israeli forces, there could be a chance to minimise their influence on the political system. Much of this hope relied on the United States intervening in Iran, as it has done so in the last several days.

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Lebanon’s sectarian political system is as intricate as is its society. Having been at the crossroads of civilisations, Lebanon has developed into a beautiful tapestry of intertwining cultures, religions and influences. Accurate demographic data is hard to come by, as Lebanon has not conducted an official census since 1932. Today, estimates suggest roughly 32–34 per cent Christian, 31–32 per cent Sunni, 31–32 per cent Shia, with Druze and other minorities making up the remainder.

Yet, this diversity also creates an equal challenge of finding consensus. For the longest time, the design of its political system was responding to the necessity of equal representation. Being a parliamentary republic – when the legislative branch decides on the Prime Minister, the government and the President, the powers were thought to be split equally. The Presidential post was allocated to Christians, the Speaker of the Parliament was to be a Shia Muslim, the Prime Minister – a Sunni. The political factions themselves also have their own representation, currently having six Christian and four Muslim parties holding mandates in the parliament. A classic in Western understanding majority in the Parliament does not exist – the voting – as many things in Lebanon – is situational and negotiable. Like, the election of the new President last year – the former chief of the army General Joseph Aoun was voted in with the support of both Christians and Muslims, including the Hezbollah faction.

The question of Hezbollah’s future looms large.

The group’s routes lie in the marginalisation of parts of the Shia community during the civil war era, yet many Lebanese now see it less as a protector and more as a liability. Those I spoke to genuinely believe that competitive elections could diminish Hezbollah’s parliamentary influence. At the same time, we must understand that radical political movements are merely a representation of the deep socio-economic problems that exist within the society. Simply getting rid of symptoms will not cure an illness. Lebanon has to work with marginalised communities and address the underlying inequities to minimise the risk of their further radicalisation and creation of a new ‘Hezbollah’ over time. At the same time, some of the political leaders were very forthright with me: unless Tehran’s influence and by extension Iran’s support for Hezbollah is substantially curtailed – including through an external intervention -the group could rearm within two to three years. In this case, deradicalizing Lebanon must be both internal and external effort.

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The newly elected leadership – after years of vacuum – faces a monumental task. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have moved quickly to form a government and articulate a reform agenda, but building state capacity will require more than rhetoric. The Lebanese Armed Forces, underpaid and under-equipped, need revitalisation. Improving soldiers’ remuneration and restoring professionalism are prerequisites to restoring a monopoly on legitimate force.

Disarming Hezbollah will take a strong and competent army. Lebanon has relied heavily on international peacekeeping in the south. With the UN mission winding down, political leaders deliberate alternatives for security cooperation. Historically, France has been a close partner. Yet many Lebanese lament that French support often falls short of its declarations. Today, there is a greater expectation placed on Germany, Italy and the United States, while the United Kingdom’s presence feels diminished and almost irrelevant.

Security and prosperity will also hinge on Lebanon’s relationship with Israel. Formal recognition of Israel remains deeply contested in Lebanon’s fractured society, yet many see reducing Iran-backed influence as the first prerequisite to any meaningful rapprochement.

Beyond geopolitics, Lebanon needs robust internal reforms – the ones that will worsen conditions before they improve. Parliamentary elections planned for Spring may now be delayed, but they are essential. A government with a renewed democratic mandate will need to confront hard truths about economic collapse and institutional failure.

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The last time I visited Lebanon was in 2005 – just as the explosion that killed former Prime Minister Farik Hariri rocked the Bay of St. George. Since then, Lebanon has weathered years of upheaval – economic collapse, political stalemate and intermittent conflicts. Today, the turbulence continues with fresh conflict erupting anew.

And yet, despite the destruction and the uncertainty of war, in Beirut hope still prevails. Hope that the beautiful jewel of the Middle East – with its unique mosaic of cultures, religions and ambitions – can rise again, harnessing innovation and the best of its people to secure a future of stability and prosperity.

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Netanyahu is as bloodthirsty as ever

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Netanyahu is as bloodthirsty as ever

Genocidal thug Benjamin Netanyahu is once again misusing Jewish scripture to justify the deaths of Arabs. This follows aggressors US and Israel starting an illegal war on Iran. Spain has since condemned this “war”, refusing to participate and denying the US and Israel the use of its bases to support ongoing war crimes. The UK has yet to locate its spine so it can stand up to Trump and Netanyahu.

Israel’s co-conspirator, US President Donald Trump has also repeatedly claimed that the West is freeing Iran. No one has ever been freed by having their home bombed to pieces. However, Netanyahu’s own rhetoric is entirely at odds with Trump’s assertion.

Netanyahu diverges from Trump

Speaking in Hebrew to a domestic audience, Netanyahu described Iranian civilians as “Amalek” and stated that Israel should “kill them all, including women and children”. As the Canary’s James Wright has reported:

This is a genocidal dog-whistle established on Israel’s far right. The Old Testament reads: “Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys”.

This demolishes the claim often repeated in Western mainstream media that these military actions seek to liberate Iranian people, when the reality is evidently far more sinister.

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Scripture mixed with politics: ‘Playing with fire’

And, Israel’s recent mass displacement orders in Lebanon make this concern impossible to ignore. Families in Lebanon were seen scrambling to find safety amidst threats of bombs across vast swathes of territory. As in Palestine, Israeli leaders often state their intentions openly – yet Western leaders appear unwilling to hear them.

Whilst bombing Iran, Israel is simultaneously waging another war on Lebanon. The IDF have been dropping thousands of evacuation orders on the neighbouring territory sparking terror amongst Lebanese civilians. Up to 500,000 people have reportedly been ordered to leave their homes, raising alarm that the conditions for ethnic cleansing in Lebanon are now being set.

The rhetoric describing Iranians as “Amalek” makes the agenda behind this war difficult to ignore. In the Hebrew Bible, Amalek refers to an enemy people who Israelites were commanded to destroy completely, including civilians. When Israeli leaders invoke this language while discussing Iran, it signals a dangerous ideological agenda that we have already seen in Gaza. An agenda which seeks to normalise mass violence and displacement in places such as Iran and Lebanon.

Western governments, by continuing to support Israel militarily and politically, risk becoming increasingly complicit in the devastating consequences of these campaigns.

Ethnic cleansing in process

Below is an IDF evacuation notice which shows the size of Lebanese territory being cleared by Israel. Consequently, civilians are seen running for their lives in terror:

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UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Phillippe Lazzarini has condemned Israel’s actions displacing thousands of Lebanese civilians:

Lazzarini’s statement in full:

Yet again, spiraling violence across the region is forcing thousands to flee their homes in Southern Lebanon.

Today’s evacuation orders of 4 neighborhoods in Southern Beirut are creating panic & greater forced & mass displacement.

As part of broader Lebanese authorities & civil society efforts,
@UNRWA
has opened emergency shelters for displaced people — Palestine Refugees, Lebanese & Syrians alike.

Lebanon needs peace not more destruction, displacement & death.

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CNN reporter Sana Noor Haq drew attention to the psychological re-traumatisation caused by Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Many critics describe this repeated overreach in Lebanon and Iran as acts of terrorism against civilians:

“Even small triggers, like a door slamming, cause people to jump in fear”

Nevertheless, it appears Israel may be getting more than it bargained for with counter attacks from Iran and Lebanon:

Some public figures in the UK are holding firm to their principle and insisting that we do not sink to the same levels of depravity as the US and Israel. Pointing out the craziness and schoolboy rhetoric of US officials, Sayeeda Warsi confronted Netanyahu’s blatant ‘expansionist agenda’:

No to war

Israel and the US will use whatever virtue-signaling nonsense to trigger white saviour attitudes across the West. It is a lie eagerly swallowed by Westerners that our governments are bombing and invading countries to ‘liberate’ them. Liberate them from what? Who has ever had freedom delivered to them by an expansionist and neo-colonial empire?

Persecuted and terrified Iranians and Lebanese people deserve far better. It is essential that all those who believe in equality, freedom, rule of law and basic humanity fight for it. Before it is taken away from us all by Israel and the US.

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Ultimately, once imperialists get what they want, they move on to the next target.

This will only leave a world order of absolute catastrophe for those without power, wealth, or privilege.

Featured image via the Canary

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Dems aren’t sure whether to actually spend big to flip Texas

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Dems aren’t sure whether to actually spend big to flip Texas

It didn’t take long for Democrats’ hopes of flipping Texas to dim.

Enthusiasm remains high for the party’s Senate nominee, James Talarico, but national Democrats aren’t sure how far they should go to support him — particularly if Sen. John Cornyn emerges from the GOP runoff in May. Interviews with nearly a dozen high-dollar donor advisers and strategists poured cold water on the likelihood that the party would fully commit to the staggering price tag it’d take to finally flip Texas.

“No one’s taking Texas seriously,” said a Democratic bundler who, like most others, was granted anonymity to speak candidly about intra-party dynamics.

Among their concerns is that Cornyn did better than expected in the GOP primary against Attorney General Ken Paxton, and with President Donald Trump’s potential endorsement would be able to ease his runoff victory. Democrats planning for Talarico to compete against Paxton, a scandal-ridden MAGA darling, are instead facing the prospect of trying to oust a 24-year moderate incumbent in a state that hasn’t voted for a Senate Democrat in nearly four decades.

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There are also competing priorities for national spending — just Wednesday evening, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) dropped his re-election bid in a state Senate Democrats held as recently as 2018 — potentially elevating it as a target for spending.

Underlying it all, Democrats said, is the reality that contesting Texas would require a massive injection of cash — while there are other, cheaper options on the Senate landscape.

“We have to be practical about how we use our resources,” said Alex Hoffman, a Democratic donor adviser. “You need a perfect storm to kill a white whale, and if it’s going to be Cornyn [in the general election], then it’s not a perfect storm.”

Democrats have long dreamed of turning Texas blue. But the idea of flipping the state — much less retaking the Senate overall — appeared laughable last year, when the party hit new lows in its public polling and sustained sweeping losses in 2024. But a string of overperformances in off-year and special election races, combined with Trump’s own stubbornly low approval rating, have Democrats increasingly bullish about their chances.

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“If I’m being super honest, Texas would not be within the reach of our boat here, as fishermen of the white whale, but for the wave moment we’re in,” said Tory Gavito, a Democratic donor who leads the progressive donor network Way To Win.

Tuesday’s results gave them another boost when Talarico, a social media star and prolific grassroots fundraiser, easily dispatched Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas). He now has a head start on Republicans, who after already dropping $70 million to lift Cornyn, must continue battling it out for another two and a half months through a runoff — which some are predicting could cost upwards of $100 million.

Texas Democrats see this as the moment to strike. Gavito said Democrats have built to this moment, cycle after cycle. Back in 2014, when President Barack Obama won with a young, multi-racial coalition, Democrats believed it was just a matter of time before they’d eventually flip Texas, a youthful, diverse state.

But Trump, both in 2016 and 2024, whittled down Democrats’ advantages with young, diverse voters, suggesting Texas was further out of reach than they thought. Then-Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), boosted by more than $80 million, came the closest in 2018, losing to Sen. Ted Cruz by 2.6 percentage points. When former-Rep. Colin Allred tried to oust Cruz in 2024, he lost by 8.5 points.

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Gavito said it would be “important” for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority PAC, Democrats’ top Senate super PAC, to invest in Texas to actually flip it because even though “Talarico has proven he can raise a bunch of non-corporate money … leadership, like Schumer, should see that their job is to be bullish.”

She also argued against Democrats having to pick between investing in Texas or other states — “you can do both things,” she said.

That’s a tall ask in a cycle when Democrats are already struggling mightily in the money race.

House and Senate Republicans entered 2026 with more than double the cash equivalent of their Democratic counterparts. The Republican National Committee has a more than $100 million cash advantage over the Democratic National Committee. Should the Supreme Court lift coordination limits, a looming decision cited by several donor advisers, then they believe Republicans will have an even more lopsided advantage.

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“If the goal is to win the House and Senate, then there are other, cheaper, more competitive places,” said a Democratic consultant who works on Senate races. “Do you want to try to get another $150 million for Texas or another $50 million to put Iowa or Montana or Nebraska in play? That’s the Schumer calculation.”

Before Tuesday’s primary, Schumer hadn’t placed Texas in the DSCC’s top tier of battleground races. Instead, North Carolina, Maine, Ohio and Alaska ranked highest in his list of offensive targets. That could change, however, should Paxton ultimately emerge from the runoff.

“If Paxton wins the runoff, the race is on the battleground list,” a person familiar with the DSCC’s thinking said, granted anonymity to describe private conversations. “If Cornyn makes it out, I wouldn’t count it out [either].”

When asked about Texas on Wednesday, Schumer said “Tuesday’s results in Texas are a step forward in our quest to win the Senate,” and called Talarico “a great candidate, and we can win.”

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SMP spokesperson Lauren French reiterated that “the majority runs through Ohio, Maine, Iowa, Alaska, and North Carolina … but it can also run through Texas.”

Republicans, for their part, continue to scoff at the idea Texas is competitive. In a statement, NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell said: “James Talarico thinks ‘God is nonbinary,’ wants to lay a welcome mat on our southern border, and would prioritize the rights of our ‘trans community’, all things Texans will never vote for in November.”

Even if Democrats can’t ultimately flip Texas in November, they believe Talarico’s campaign — and a potentially weakened Cornyn — will force the GOP to spend cash to defend it, turning it into “a money sinkhole for Republicans,” said Cooper Teboe, a Democratic donor adviser and strategist.

“Do we win Ohio by one [percentage point] because of this?” Teboe added.

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Some Republican strategists are warning of the possibility.

“In every race, from this point until November, there’s going to be the Texas undertones: You spent $70 million there to protect an incumbent,” a GOP strategist said, granted anonymity to discuss the issue candidly. “I think there is some frustration amongst the consulting class of like, all right, can we focus on Georgia and Michigan, some of these other places a little bit more?”

Erin Doherty contributed to this report. 

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Top Mamdani aide takes progressive project to the UK

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Top: King Charles III talks to Gordon McKee, one of the politicians Morris Katz spoke with. Katz also spoke with Rowenna Davis (bottom right) and Rosie Wrighting (bottom left). | Aaron Chown-WPA Pool via Getty Images; Jonnyb1234/Wikimedia Commons; Nicky J Sims/Getty Images

NEW YORK — Morris Katz, a top adviser to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, quietly traveled to the United Kingdom last month to meet with local progressive politicians hoping to learn tools of the trade from the young strategist.

Katz’s trip coincided with the rise of a new left-wing challenge to the embattled Labour government from the Green Party, which snatched away a Manchester-area parliamentary seat in a February special election.

One of the architects of Mamdani’s stunning election last year, Katz confirmed to POLITICO that he had ventured into British politics and described it as part of a global political struggle. He said he was there to offer members of the U.K.’s Labour and Green parties advice on mounting effective campaigns for elected office.

“The fight against the aligned interests of the oligarchy and the far right is an international one, and I’ll try to be helpful wherever I can,” the 26-year-old progressive political strategist said this week when asked about his February trip.

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Among the players Katz met with: Rosie Wrighting and Gordon McKee, two Labour members of Parliament, and Rowenna Davis, a Labour politician running for mayor of Croydon, a town in South London. Katz confirmed Labour and Green operatives initiated contact and asked him to come over for the meetings.

Mamdani has emerged as something of a political beacon for progressive parties in other countries, including the U.K. and Canada.

The British left’s overture to Katz highlights how progressive movements around the world are looking at the Mamdani campaign’s populist playbook as ripe for replication. And it speaks to how elements of the American left increasingly see themselves as part of a global project.

Katz said he has continued to hold virtual meetings with members of both parties since returning stateside and plans to speak with Green leadership in the coming weeks.

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Top: King Charles III talks to Gordon McKee, one of the politicians Morris Katz spoke with. Katz also spoke with Rowenna Davis (bottom right) and Rosie Wrighting (bottom left). | Aaron Chown-WPA Pool via Getty Images; Jonnyb1234/Wikimedia Commons; Nicky J Sims/Getty Images

The in-person sit-downs in the U.K., Katz said, revolved around his strategy and messaging techniques, with the U.K. politicians seeking to glean more insight into his overall approach. The Mamdani aide has become known for producing made-to-go-viral social media content highlighting progressive policy prescriptions for bread-and-butter issues like childcare costs.

Katz said his engagements in the U.K. were unpaid and that he’s not looking to start running campaigns across the pond this year, in part because he’s busy with the U.S. congressional midterms. But he expressed openness to working with progressives there on a paid basis in the future, opening the door to a key Mamdani adviser becoming an international political fixer.

Katz wouldn’t be the first U.S. progressive to help like-minded British politicians. Advisers to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) helped former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s unsuccessful 2017 campaign for prime minister.

Drawing connections across different countries’ politics can be complicated, and while Mamdani’s high-octane style of campaigning can generate excitement in places other than New York, it’s not clear that everyone he met with on his travels overseas buys into his ideological project. Wrighting and McKee are prolific on social media platforms like TikTok, much like the New York City executive, but are mainstream Labour backbenchers.

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Spokespeople for the Green and Labour parties did not return requests for comment about the meetings with Katz.

Morris Katz has been sharing advice with British politicians. | David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

The Labour Party lost a key parliamentary election last week after the Greens, a much smaller party, ran a 34-year-old candidate who focused her campaign on tackling a spiraling cost-of-living crisis. The candidate, 34-year-old former plumber Hannah Spencer, has argued since her victory that it’s a winning message for the Green Party to continue emphasizing.

“We ran a hopeful campaign backed by thousands of volunteers and activists. We defeated the parties of billionaire donors,” Spencer wrote in an op-ed in The Guardian last week.

Sound familiar?

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Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo, New York’s former governor, in last summer’s mayoral primary after aggressively centering his campaign around proposals aimed at making the city more affordable for working class New Yorkers.

The U.K.’s left-leaning parties, especially Labour following last month’s election setback, likely see Mamdani’s messaging model as something they can harness in future campaigns. That’s where Katz comes in.

Katz, who calls himself a populist politics “believer,” has been credited with spearheading the Mamdani campaign’s laser focus on promising to fight for a more affordable city by raising taxes on the rich to expand social safety nets, including making public transit and child care programs free. Though he hasn’t joined Mamdani’s administration, Katz is seen as very close with the mayor and continues to advise him on both governmental and political matters, joining him, for instance, for both of his high-profile meetings with President Donald Trump.

“The Brits can use some excitement in their politics,” Doug Muzzio, a longtime political scientist in New York who is not affiliated with Mamdani or his team, said when asked to opine on Katz’s U.K. moves. “So if Mamdani’s engaging style is something that can be replicated over there that would probably be very welcome.”

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Top: New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani addresses supporters after being declared winner of the 2025 New York City mayoral election at his election night watch party at the Brooklyn Paramount in Brooklyn, New York, on Nov. 4, 2025.

Bottom: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, listens as Czech President Petr Pavel (L) speak at a Townhall panel on populism at the 62nd Munich Security Conference on February 13, 2026 in Munich, Germany.

It isn’t unusual for campaign consultants to embark on a traveling road show abroad after successful domestic stints. Political advice is among the most American of exports: Chris LaCivita, Trump’s co-campaign manager, advised Sali Berisha of Albania’s opposition party after his 2024 White House run. Bob Shrum, the former Democratic presidential candidate adviser and speechwriter, advised Ehud Barak in Israel’s 1999 election for prime minister and the British Labour Party under former Prime Minister Tony Blair. And James Carville, the veteran political strategist, also advised Blair, along with having done work in more than 20 countries.

“A guy gets elected and they like you, and somebody calls: ‘Hey, somebody from such and such called us,’ and they’ll recommend people. I mean, it’s a kind of networking thing,” Carville said. “The perception is our political consultants are better than they actually are.”

But Katz’s adventures abroad likely say more about his principal than the consultant. Of Mamdani, Carville says: “He’s an object of curiosity.” In the same way that former President Bill Clinton’s popularity abroad juiced Carville’s prospects, Mamdani and his retinue are drawing longing glances from international compatriots.

“A lot of people hired me just to say we got Clinton’s guy,” Carville said.

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And now more than ever, an appetite for progressive insights is sweeping Europe: Just last month, organizers of the Munich Security Conference hosted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who in her remarks connected income inequality to the global rise of authoritarianism.

“Voters in democracies in Europe and elsewhere are responding to a lot of the same things that American voters are,” said Matt Duss, who advised Ocasio-Cortez on her Munich trip and is executive vice president at the progressive think tank Center for International Policy. “That’s a system of government that has not delivered for them, that they see as captured by special interests that are not responsive to their needs.”

Duss, who also previously served as foreign policy adviser to Bernie Sanders, said there is a global appetite for that brand of progressivism.

“I do think Bernie obviously has inspired a lot of colleagues in other democracies. Mamdani is a name that we hear a lot from our colleagues in Europe on the left,” Duss said. “People are watching and learning from each other. American progressives have things to learn as our colleagues in Europe innovate and vice versa.”

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A New York City Board of Elections sticker is seen outside of a polling site at P.S. 20 in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on Nov. 4, 2025.

Going international is not without risks.

Witness, for example, Ocasio-Cortez’s reception in Munich, on-camera and widely clipped miscues on everything from mislabeling the Trans-Atlantic partnership the Trans-Pacific Partnership to suggesting Venezuela was below not above the Equator. (On the ground, leaders’ embrace of her was warmer than the social media maw.)

Were Katz to get officially involved in the U.S., he may not go at it alone. He is the co-founder of Fight Agency, a consulting firm made up of a number of veterans of the American progressive movement who could also get roped into working with him overseas. Among them: Rebecca Katz, an alum of former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration who has managed a number of successful congressional campaigns in recent years.

Rebecca Katz, who is not related to Morris Katz, did not comment for this story.

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Domestically, Morris Katz’s travels abroad posed some obstacles for a candidate in his stable.

“It was very hard to communicate with him and his team during the January, February timeframe, because he was over there,” said Nathan Sage, the former Iowa Senate candidate and Katz client who dropped out of the race in mid-February. “I have no idea what he’s doing. I have no idea what that is, but I do know that it was difficult.”

Despite that, Sage said he would recommend Katz’s firm to others.

John Johnston contributed to this report.

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