Labour could consider a cap on political donations after two cryptocurrency billionaires living overseas gave Reform UK a combined £72million, a senior minister indicated today.

Angela Rayner said party funding had become a “live issue” after financiers Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo together set a new record for the biggest donation in British political history.

Mr Harborne, who is based in Thailand, and Hong Kong-based Mr Delo each gave £36million to Nigel Farage’s party on Saturday.

Mr Farage said the pair had handed over the money in advance to head off any Labour effort to impose donation limits, while helping him accelerate plans to build a party operation capable of competing with Labour and the Conservatives.

A Bill currently progressing through Parliament would limit overseas donations to £100,000. However, both men are registered UK voters, meaning their contributions are legal.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to support a backbench proposal that would extend tighter rules to UK-based donations, following resistance from trade unions that provide funding to his party.

Speaking to Sky News today, Ms Rayner said: “We’re saying that if you don’t pay taxes, if you don’t live here, you can’t buy your way into our democracy because you’re a billionaire.

“It’s a really live question for us about making sure that our democracy is about the people and them having a choice, and not about people with billions of pounds being able to buy their way.”

Reform UK has insisted its two crypto-billionaire donors want ‘nothing’ in exchange for their combined £72million gifts to the party.

Neither Mr Harborne nor Mr Delo will be given a knighthood, a peerage or a government contract if Reform comes to power, the party said, after receiving the two gifts in the space of 24 hours.

The donations, amounting to £36million from each man, are the largest in British political history and together are equivalent to three-quarters of the money spent at the 2024 general election by all parties combined.

Thailand-based Mr Harborne, Reform’s largest donor, said his gift was ‘a philanthropic gift to our country’ intended to help the party prepare for government.

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As well as donating to the party, Mr Harborne gave £5million to Mr Farage personally, with the Reform leader’s failure to declare the gift leading to an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

Mr Delo, who was pardoned last year by Donald Trump after a conviction for violating the US Bank Secrecy Act, said his donation was intended to create a ‘level playing field’ for Reform with the other parties.

Reform finance spokesman Robert Jenrick said the combined £72 million donations from two crypto-billionaires will enable Reform UK to be ‘battle ready’ for a general election.

He repeated assertions that the donors have asked for nothing in return and would not receive honours under a Reform UK government.

‘Nigel (Farage) has said this in the last few days: neither of these two individuals, nor anyone who donates to our party, is going to be on some honours list in the years ahead if we’re lucky enough to to be in government, and I can assure that.’ he said.

He added: ‘We’re very confident that these two donations are perfectly legal.’

Mr Jenrick said Mr Delo was a ‘very respected businessman’.

T he shadow foreign secretary said the crypto industry ‘has backers in people who want to launder money’.

Tom Tugendhat told Sky News that ‘the British people can’t be bought’ and it was ‘an illusion that people can buy their way into public office’.

The Conservative MP for Tonbridge said: ‘I welcome people supporting political activity in the country because I think it’s important that democracy is supported. What I do say, however, is every party is responsible for checking the sources of their own donations, and we’ve seen reports about that in recent weeks.

‘And so I hope very much that the due diligence has been done on this. It should have been, it’s a legal requirement.’

Mr Tugendhat added: ‘Now, this appears to be very focused on the crypto industry. And the crypto industry has got many supporters, I know, including in Iran where they use it to buy weapons from Venezuela; including in Russia where they use it to launder money in order to pay agents around Europe.

‘The crypto industry has backers who have great interest in a new form of currency.

‘It also has backers in people who want to launder money.’

Britons are now spending as much as £4 billion each year on supplements marketed as a route to improved concentration, brighter moods and higher energy.

Yet pharmacists have cautioned that several of the best-known products may come with serious health concerns, including heavy bleeding, kidney harm and potentially fatal heart attacks.

The risks can increase if supplements are taken alongside prescription drugs that they interact with, or when users go beyond the advised dosage.

“Some supplements can alter the way a prescription medicine works or intensify its effects,” said Palvinder Deol, a pharmacist at Happy Pharmacy.

“You may not have to stop using supplements altogether, but anyone taking regular medication should speak to their pharmacist before introducing a new one.”

Magnesium supplements, in particular, are enjoying a major surge in attention, fuelled in part by widely shared social media claims that they can tackle sleep difficulties.

TikTok videos featuring the hashtag magnesium attracted more than one billion views last year.

While most adults can obtain sufficient magnesium from food, supplement sales have climbed alongside promises that the mineral could help people reach the much-sought-after eight hours of sleep.

Magnesium is found naturally in many everyday foods, from dark leafy vegetables and wholegrains to nuts and seeds. Recommended daily amounts are comparatively low: 270mg for women and 300mg for men.

The mineral is essential for converting food into energy, regulating the nervous system and maintaining healthy bones. Research also suggests healthy magnesium levels are linked to better sleep quality and duration.  

However, Mr Deol warns that people may be taking more than they need without realising it.  

‘The important thing is that taking extra magnesium isn’t quite the same as simply getting magnesium naturally through your diet, especially when you’re also taking regular medication,’ he said. 

People who are taking medicines for osteoporosis, levothyroxine for an underactive thyroid and certain antibiotics need to be particularly cautious. 

‘Magnesium can interfere with the absorption of certain medicines when they’re taken too close together, meaning your body may not get as much of the prescribed treatment as intended.’ 

Rather than simply taking medication in the morning and magnesium before bed, Mr Deol advises checking the patient information leaflet and speaking to a pharmacist about the best timing.  

Turmeric supplements can also pose risks, particularly because some products contain high doses of the active ingredient curcumin. 

Curcumin has been linked to benefits ranging from reducing indigestion and joint pain to supporting weight loss. It is also thought to possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.  

But Mr Deol warns, high-doses can increase the risk of excessive bleeding, especially when combined with medicines that reduce blood’s clotting ability. 

‘This isn’t a reason for somebody taking these medicines to suddenly remove turmeric from their normal diet,’ he added. 

‘The concern is much more about concentrated supplements taking regularly alongside medication.’ 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises taking no more than 3mg of curcumin per kg of bodyweight of a day – but dosage can vary based on whether it is being used to treat a specific condition. 

Studies suggest 1,000mg per day for up to 12 weeks may ease arthritis symptoms, but such doses are not risk-free.  

High dose turmeric supplements have been shown to increase the risk of kidney stones, lessen the effects of painkillers and in some cases make allergies worse. 

For that reason, health professionals generally recommend obtaining turmeric through food wherever possible. 

People struggling with fatigue are also urged not to reach for iron tablets without first checking whether they are deficient.  

Tiredness can have many causes and taking iron when it is not needed can trigger constipation, nausea and abdominal pain without addressing the underlying issue.

Other common symptoms include hair loss, headaches and cold extremities. And it is more common in those who don’t eat meat or rely heavily on ultra-processed foods. 

‘If you’re taking iron purely because you feel tired and nobody has confirmed that you’re deficient, find out what’s actually behind the tiredness rather than carrying on indefinitely,’ the pharmacist said.  

Patients taking statins, antidepressants or chemotherapy drugs should also think twice before using herbal medicines like St John’s Wort, experts warn.  

The herbal remedy, derived from a yellow-flowering  plant, is often used to treat mild to moderate depression. 

‘This is probably the clearest example on the list of why herbal doesn’t mean interaction-free,’ Mr Deol said. 

‘St John’s wort can change the way the body processes a surprisingly wide range of medicines, so it deserves more caution than its over-the-counter availability might suggest.’ 

Research suggests that people who take the herbal remedy alongside hormonal contraceptives, antidepressants or blood thinners are at greater risk of adverse drug reactions. 

‘Combining some antidepressants with St John’s wort can push serotonin levels too high and potentially lead to serotonin syndrome, which can be serious,’ he said. 

Symptoms include confusion, agitation, rapid heart rate, sweating and shaking and can begin within hours. 

Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek urgent medical advice by contacting their GP, specialist or NHS 111.  

Finally, Mr Deol warned that people switching to low-salt products may be consuming more potassium than they realise.  

While potassium is less commonly supplemented than things like iron and vitamin D – with many of us probably only thinking about our levels when we reach for a banana – it is crucial for muscle function. 

A 2025 study found that consuming more potassium while cutting back on salt has greater impact on blood pressure than simply reducing our consumption of salty foods alone. 

The NHS recommends adults consume 3,500mg of potassium a day – the equivalent of ten medium bananas. 

But given that whole grains, poultry, milk and many fruits and vegetables are abundant in the mineral, most people who eat a balanced, varied diet will be getting enough of it.  

However, many low-sodium versions of bread, cheese and processed meats use potassium-based salt substitutes instead, which can become an issue if your medication is already affecting how much potassium your body holds on to, Mr Deol says. 

‘Certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions can increase potassium levels,’ he said 

‘The kidneys normally play an important part in keeping potassium within the right range, so the risk can be greater for somebody whose kidney function is reduced. 

‘Adding extra potassium through a supplement or salt substitute can then push levels too high. This matters because very high potassium can affect the heart, and you can’t reliably tell what your potassium level is simply from how you feel.’

Symptoms of a potassium deficiency include muscle cramps, fatigue, constipation, heart palpitations, numbness or tingling and feeling light-headed. 

The good news is that, unlike many vitamins and minerals, potassium is rarely sold in high doses on the UK high street.

Even so, Mr Deol recommends checking labels on low-sodium foods and salt substitutes, particularly for people taking blood pressure medication or those with kidney problems.

Labour’s proposal to treat discrimination based on social class in a similar way to racial and sex discrimination is unlikely to succeed, the chairman of the soon-to-close Social Mobility Commission has warned.

Alun Francis, who chairs the Social Mobility Commission (SMC), also raised concerns about the absence of independent oversight for the replacement unit unveiled by ministers last week.

Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson said she would shut down the SMC and establish Whitehall’s first dedicated team focused on tackling class inequality and discrimination.

The new unit will operate within the Office for Equality and Opportunity, alongside teams dealing with race, gender, LGBT and disability rights.

Among its first responsibilities will be introducing a socio-economic duty for public bodies, requiring them to consider how their decisions on areas including transport, services and budgets could improve the lives of lower-income families.

The SMC, which was established in 2010 and was formerly called the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, will be abolished under the plans.

Asked by the BBC whether the new arrangement would be effective, Mr Francis said: ‘If they [the government] have decided that a unit for class offers a better way forward for their agenda then I wish them well. I don’t think they’re right and I think it’s a mistake.’

Speaking on Radio 4’s The Westminster Hour, he questioned whether the new body would have the necessary ‘expertise’, adding: ‘There are serious problems of definition around class.

‘Do we define it by occupation or income or culture? Each of those have their own challenges. 

‘It’s a very useful concept sometimes for broad understanding of broad patterns. But when it comes down to designing interventions focused on individuals or individual groups, it’s a very blunt tool.’ 

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Bridget Phillipson last week said social class is a ‘deep barrier to opportunity’ and repeated Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s political mantra that his Government will ‘bring hope back to communities’.

The new unit will reflect the role of class in how people are treated and the opportunities they have in life, the Government said.

Considerations will include working class people’s experiences of public services, health disparities and access to employment.

The Government said it will bring in a socio-economic duty, which is something Britain’s rights watchdog – the Equality and Human Rights Commission – has previously called for and was a Labour Party manifesto commitment.

As a new power in the Equality Act, it will legally require public bodies to consider how to improve the lives of lower-income families as part of decisions around issues including transport, services and budgets.

It is understood that while the unit will seek to address outcomes for the working class overall, there will be a specific focus on improving outcomes for white working class people amid concerns this group has been neglected in recent years.

The SMC, launched in 2010 and previously known as the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, will close, with Ms Phillipson telling Parliament its work ‘will be brought into the heart of Government as we get Britain believing once again’.

That commission was established to assess progress in improving social mobility in the UK and to promote social mobility in England, but the department said there were no examples in the past decade of its work having directly informed government policy.

Mr Francis told the BBC Ms Phillipson has apologised for this attack on his work.

Joy Morrissey, the Tory shadow equalities minister, previously criticised Ms Phillipson’s plans and warned against pushing ‘more bureaucracy’ on organisations.

She said: ‘White working-class boys do not need another Labour quango lecturing them about identity and privilege.

And Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, welcomed the Government’s announcement, but warned against ‘crude class labels’.

Jim Curtis says his relationship with Jennifer Aniston has given his spiritual wellness message a far wider audience, allowing him to reach “many more” people than before.

The wellness coach, 50, has been dating the Hollywood actress, 57, for more than a year. Aniston recently joined him for a live Q&A event held to launch his latest book.

Curtis says the overlap between his personal life and professional work has happened naturally. Reflecting on his growing public profile in a new interview, he said: “Aren’t I blessed to be of interest?”

“And to have the opportunity that if there is a soul, person or mind that is interested in my work, that now I have the potential to bring it to them. And that is my mission.”

Although Curtis does not hold psychology qualifications, he says he has trained in a range of coaching practices, including hypnotherapy, hypnosis, neurolinguistic programming, mindfulness, meditation and executive coaching.

He says his work draws on the methods that helped transform his own life, which he now shares with clients and followers. Women account for the majority of his 1.1 million Instagram followers.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, Curtis said that while helping others remains his central purpose, he also enjoys a quieter life with Aniston at her $21 million Los Angeles home. He divides his time between her property and his apartment in New York.

During stays at Aniston’s home, Curtis starts the day early with sit-ups in bed before feeding her three dogs and bringing the actress coffee. The pair then begin their day with a shared meditation practice.

“We take real responsibility to go within and understand and soothe ourselves. So we meditate together,” Curtis said. “I meditate and I’ll say things like ‘I’m divinely guided’, meaning I don’t have to worry, it’s all working out.”

Curtis adds that he avoids watching the news, calling it ‘brainwashing’ and steers well clear of any stories about his relationship. 

The wellness coach can’t avoid the fact though that his methods have been in the spotlight. His 2018 TEDx talk,  The Cosmic Algorithm: Deciphering the Signs, was flagged by TED because it ‘appears to fall outside’ editorial guidelines.

Meanwhile his new book focuses on his belief in the ‘quantum field’- an energetic space where every possible version of your life exists simultaneously.

Curtis has borrowed the name from a formal, physics theory, which scientists have critcised as ‘fraudulent’ as it creates a a veneer of scientific authority. #

Curtis insists he sees spirituality and science as separate, and says ‘For a long time I felt like, who am I to give spiritual advice? Who am I to give advice on how you’re going to overcome your pain and your suffering in your life? And then I realised who am I not to?’ 

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Aniston went Instagram official with Curtis to mark his birthday last November.

At the time, she professed her love for her beau as she shared a black and white image of her hugging him from behind.

She captioned the loved-up photo: ‘Happy birthday, my love. Cherished ❤️.’

The hypnotist also posted snapshots from his birthday party on his Instagram account across two posts.

One caption read: ’50 and feeling good! Birthday recap part 1. Thank you for all the wishes and love. So grateful for you my friends, family and community.’

Another more romantic one, including a wider shot of the photo Jennifer posted, had the sweet note, ‘If this is a dream I don’t want to wake up. ❤️.’

Insiders have shared insight on the current state of the couple’s romance to Us Weekly. 

The source claimed that Aniston and Curtis have ‘moved beyond the excitement of a new relationship and are developing a genuine partnership’.

The pair are said to have ‘an ease about them that’s infectious’ and that that ease stems from them feeling ‘accepted’ by one another.

‘It comes from feeling accepted rather than needing to impress each other,’ the insider explained. 

‘They are more trusting and less guarded. They are just as comfortable discussing difficult subjects as they are being vulnerable with each other. It’s grown from an exciting connection to a dependable partnership.’

The insider also shared that Aniston’s friends are impressed by how ‘naturally’ her and Curtis’s ‘lives have blended together despite coming from totally different worlds’.

Pals are also convinced that the secret to the couple’s romantic success is because Curtis ‘is not part of the industry’ and does ‘his own thing’.