The hefty donations from Mr Delo and Mr Harborne have renewed calls for increased scrutiny of UK political campaign finance. There is currently no cap on the amount of money that UK-based donors can give to political parties. So, who are these two super-wealthy men, gifting unimaginable sums of money to Reform UK? Ben Delo The 42-year-old British cryptocurrency billionaire was born in Sheffield and diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome - a form of autism - as a child. He studied mathematics and computer science at the University of Oxford, graduating with double first-class honours. Initially working as a software engineer at IBM in London, he then moved into financial services, relocating to Hong Kong for his role at JPMorgan. With regard to his current location, Reform deputy leader Richard Tice confirmed to Sky News that Mr Delo has "moved back or is literally moving back" to the UK from Hong Kong. In 2014, Mr Delo co-founded cryptocurrency platform BitMEX. In 2022, he was convicted in the US of a Bank Secrecy Act violation, before being pardoned by President Donald Trump last year. A self-described philanthropist, Mr Delo became one of the youngest ever signatories of The Giving Pledge in 2019, committing to giving away the majority of his wealth during his lifetime, donating to causes including maths education, free enquiry and academic freedom, the Commonwealth, and neurodiversity. In a 2025 article, Mr Delo wrote for The Spectator, announcing his support for the London Institute for Mathematical Sciences. He wrote: "I'm not interested in art auctions or superyachts. I'm interested in backing ideas that scale - and truth should scale better than anything else." Mr Delo says he has given Reform the record £36m donation to ensure a "fair fight" at the polls. He made the payment up front to avoid attempts to block it. The £36m figure represents £1m a month between now and the latest possible date of the next general election in 2029, according to the Daily Telegraph. Writing for the newspaper, Mr Delo said: "Unlike the people who express mock concern for the health of 'our democracy' while doing everything they can to keep it as a cartel, I want a fair fight and a level playing field. "My conclusion from Reform's recent troubles is that they should spend less time trying to raise funds to compete on equal terms and more time preparing for government." Christopher Harborne Billionaire Christopher Harborne, 63, has donated millions to Reform UK over the years, with his previous largest donation a £9 million gift in August last year. That has now been trumped by his £36m donation, matching that of Mr Delo. Born near Sheffield and educated at the fee-paying Westminster School, he studied engineering at Cambridge University, where he was a keen rower. Describing himself on his LinkedIn profile as an "engineer, pilot and investor", he made his money in the aviation field, defence and investment, and in cryptocurrency. Based in Thailand since 1996, he has a second Thai name - Chakrit Sakunkrit, as well as a Thai passport, and a wellness resort on Koh Samui. Writing in the Telegraph about his record donation to Reform, Mr Harborne said the party required funds for its infrastructure, saying it "needs more money than can be provided by membership fees alone". He added: "What do I expect in return for my donations? Nothing, personally. No peerage, no policy change, just a party that is ready for government. "I have already accumulated enough wealth for the rest of my life. I am now committed to putting that to work for Britain and humanity as a whole." He previously made large donations to the Conservatives under Boris Johnson and accompanied the former prime minister on a two-day trip to Ukraine in 2023. Mr Harborne has also previously given to Nigel Farage's private office. An investigation is currently underway into a £5m gift given by Mr Harborne to Nigel Farage in 2024, before he became an MP. On another occasion, he donated more than £60,000 to the Reform leader, flying him out to Donald Trump's second inauguration.

The 62-year-old, best known for playing Alfie Moon in the long-running soap, faces a trial next year. He appeared by video-link before Colchester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday under his real name, Shane Roche. The actor spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address and to enter his plea. The video-link to the court briefly dropped out, but when the connection returned he said: "Sorry, I'm in a hotel up north." Richie, of Tadworth, Surrey, is accused of driving a white Hyundai car in Church Langley Way, Harlow, Essex, while above the legal limit for alcohol on 29 July. He is alleged to have provided a breath sample of 65 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol. Vladimir Silea, prosecuting, said police attended a Tesco petrol station in Church Langley Way at 11.15pm where Richie was arrested and taken to Harlow police station. Read more from Sky News:Oil rises above $100 a barrel as Middle East conflict escalates'Very hot' drinks can increase risk of cancer, study finds He said that officers "commenced the drink and drug-driving procedure" at the police station, and the lower reading provided was of 65 micrograms of alcohol. Deputy District Judge Christopher Maynard bailed Richie until 17 November 2027, when he is due to stand trial at the same court. Richie, who came fourth on I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2020, has also hosted a number of TV game shows and appeared in pantomimes.

Ed Milliband made a bold statement in the Commons this week - UK government sanctions on Israeli settlements. But is there more to the timing of this? Harriet makes the case for why it's principled rather than political, and Beth, Ruth and Harriet dig into another question underneath the policy - is this a rebuke of Keir Starmer, and did his government simply not move fast enough? And the response from Britain's Jewish community, and whether Ed Miliband needs to do more on this now. We also go further into Reform's woes, following on from our members' episode this week. As the Metropolitan Police widens its investigation into party donations after Channel 4's undercover documentary, former Conservative-turned-Reform member Tim Montgomerie joins the ladies fresh from quitting the party to explain why he thinks the court around leader Nigel Farage is starting to crack, and whether Reform has already peaked. To listen without ads, get new episodes a week early, exclusive bonus episodes, and much more, become a Sky News Insider. Find out more and subscribe at https://skynews.com/electoraldysfunction Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.

The thought of England losing the Test match would have been unthinkable when Ollie Robinson reduced the visitors to 0-2 on the second evening - Pakistan still trailing by 320 at the time - but it looked a genuine possibility when the hosts themselves lost two in their first over to start the fourth morning. Ben Duckett (0) signed off a miserable series by nicking off first ball to Mohammad Abbas (2-27), who added Emilio Gay (0) lbw to finish a stunning opener. Scorecard: England vs Pakistan, third Test at EdgbastonEngland vs Pakistan - as it happened on day four in BirmingamListen to episodes of the Sky Sports Cricket PodcastNot got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream cricket with no contract But any fears of England succumbing to a calamitous defeat were soon dispelled by their skipper as Joe Root (62no) struck a fine fifty, sharing an unbroken 128-run partnership with Jordan Cox (59no), who notched his third half-century late on, to secure victory in 24.2 overs. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be left wondering would could have been, had Mohammad Ali not overstepped when bowling Root for 23 - dragging onto his stumps off a no-ball - with England just 35-2 at the time. Will England stick with Cox for South Africa? Cox's knock will have aided his hopes of retaining a spot in England's starting XI when the Test team are next in action for the three-match tour of South Africa, starting on December 17. Jacob Bethell - injured for the Pakistan series - is expected to return to the side, but could he or Cox open the batting instead of Gay? And were Gay to retain his place at the top of the order, Cox could yet fill in at wicketkeeper instead of Jamie Smith, who didn't keep during Pakistan's second innings due to an injured finger - though he has three months for that to sufficiently heal. Pakistan were briefly hopeful of successfully defending a total of 130 or less in a Test match for the first time since 1993, when New Zealand were bowled out for 93, chasing 127, at Hamilton. The last such instance of 130 or less being defended in England was when England set Australia 124 in the 1997 Ashes at The Oval and bowled them out for 104. Pakistan unearth gem in Razaullah after series of struggles In what has otherwise been a dismal series for Pakistan, they at least leave having shown some fight in this final Test by taking things into a fourth day and setting a target that briefly troubled England. Also, in 21-year-old Razaullah, they have certainly unearthed a raw gem. The debutant knocked over England's all-time leading run-scorer Root in the first innings with just his fourth ball in Test cricket, on his way to a four-wicket haul, while his exploits with the bat on the third evening will live long in the memory. When Pakistan's eighth second-innings wicket fell, they still trailed by two runs - England looking set to clinch their series sweep inside three days - before Razaullah proceeded to smash 81 off only 63 balls, clearing the ropes a staggering nine times to equal Tim Southee's record for a debutant. Ultimately though, England are well deserving of the 3-0 series scoreline to herald Root's return as Test captain following Ben Stokes' international retirement earlier in the summer. Root pleased with how England have dealt with 'chaos' England Test captain Joe Root: "The amount of uncertainty, noise and I guess chaos there was coming into the series, the way the guys have dealt with that - being so clinical with what we've had in front of us - and be stood here with a 3-0 win is really pleasing. "We were clinical towards the back end there, a big partnership to see us home. It's exactly the sort of thing we're after and puts us in a nice place going into the winter. "From 2-2, to be able to see that home with two guys set at the end, is a step forward in the right direction. "The fact that everyone is contrubuting shows that they're good enough to perform at this level, which is a really good thing. "We'll have different challenges in the winter and different surfaces, but can we keep taking strides forward as a group? Guys going on and making big contributions [hundred] will be one of them. That being said, we still made 400 twice in these testing conditions." Butch: A lot of good things about England Sky Sports Cricket's Mark Butcher: "They were made to sweat for it at times, which is a good thing. "It gave England pause for thought at times when it comes to differing conditions in Test matches - particularly with regards to South Africa and the ball not moving laterally as much. "Perhaps a slight concern about the lack of centuries by the batters, but there was a lot of good things about England this Test match series. "They weren't given much of a challenge for most of it, which is why yesterday was such a pleasing day as far as the summer is concerned." Urooj: Major problems for Pakistan cricket Sky Sports Cricket's Urooj Mumtaz: "There are problems with Pakistan cricket, major problems. They lost this series, drew in the West Indies, lost to Bangladesh at home, where their record isn't particularly good. "They have now lost 11 out of 12 away from home and 15 out of the last 20 Test matches. Those are telling figures, as were the size of England's wins. "Pakistan maybe had just one good day of cricket in the Test series. There are ingredients to work with but a lot needs to be done right for longer periods of time if there is to be a brighter Pakistan future." England vs Pakistan - series resultsFirst Test (Headingley) - England won by innings and 103 runsSecond Test (Lord's) - England won by 194 runsThird Test (Edgbaston) - England won by eight wickets Watch every England match during the international summer live on Sky Sports, including the white-ball series' against Sri Lanka, starting with the first T20I on Tuesday. Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream contract-free with NOW.

The three set sail on Friday morning to catch halibut, but the US Coast Guard began a search effort when they failed to return on Sunday to Savoonga, a small village in the north of St Lawrence Island. Derek Parker Aghnaanga was hoisted to safety by a fishing boat near the Alaskan island. He was found at around 10.30am on Monday, petty officer third class Nathan Bishop said. The bodies of his cousin and brother were also recovered. The cousin had clung on to the overturned boat, but died before rescuers arrived, Aghnaanga said. Video of the rescue showed the teenager in a bright yellow jacket kneeling upon the overturned skiff. The boat's crew threw him a line, tugging the vessel closer until they were able to pull him into a rescue basket. The teenager clung to the skiff in the darkness, with water temperatures of around 10C, according to the captain of the fishing boat that came to his aid. "That's one tough kid," said captain Adam White of the Northwest Explorer, speaking to KTUU-TV in Anchorage. "Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff," White said. Aghnaanga also told him his cousin had "slipped away" the previous night. Coast Guard planes and helicopters began searching for the boat on Monday morning after family members reported the trio missing the night before. Their skiff capsized on Saturday night far out into the ocean, Collen Walker, an aunt of the two brothers, was told. The three were set to return at around 3am on Sunday, the Coast Guard said. The service said one of its air crews spotted the boy on Monday morning and deployed a raft and supplies before contacting the Northwest Explorer. Aghnaanga's mother, Vina Kulowiyi, was listening to a radio transmission of the rescue on Monday while other family members huddled around a speakerphone, Walker said. "We all cried and jumped for joy when the captain announced on the radio, 'We found a kid, he's alive, he's alive,'" she said. "Then we asked, 'Where's the rest of them?'" Aghnaanga was experiencing symptoms of hypothermia when he was pulled on to the boat, the Coast Guard said. The fishing boat crew warmed him with blankets and hot packs, its captain said. Read more from Sky NewsWhy getting pregnant can be a death sentence in AfghanistanWoman, 54, gives birth after using embryo frozen for 22 years Kulowiyi spoke of her relief following the ordeal. "My survivor. His story is amazing. He was never afraid the whole time," she wrote in a Facebook post. "He knew he would be OK knowing his big brother was under the boat. "He lived on prayer with no food and water. Love you son." Halibut fishing is an important part of everyday life in the village, which has around 800 residents and a shortage of jobs, Walker said. Aghnaanga often went fishing with his 35-year-old brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, and looked to him as a father figure ever since their dad died, she added. She described Kulowiyi, a commercial fishing captain, as a humble and loving "provider for people in the village". Walker didn't want to release the name of their cousin who died, but said he also came from Savoonga.

The broadcaster said it had done a "comprehensive review" earlier in the year and found a need for a "change in how the organisation operates". It said its new structure would "greatly reduce non-programming spend" and reduce management layers, simplify decision-making and remove duplication. The changes come nearly two years after it axed 200 roles under Alex Mahon's leadership. Current Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra - who joined from Sky in March - said the broadcaster was a "precious asset which plays a unique role in the UK". "We need to secure and own our future so we can continue to make shows others won't, reach audiences others can't, and thrive as a distinctive and disruptive British voice for future generations," she said. Ms Dogra said Channel 4 needed a "fundamental transformation in how we work" to deliver programmes audiences want to watch and "deliver its future strategy". She added: "I know the proposals we are announcing today will be very difficult for many colleagues and will have a significant impact across the organisation. Many talented people who have made an enormous contribution to Channel 4 will be leaving as a result." The cuts equate to 28% of the company's workforce. Read more:Hundreds more UK flights cancelledBody found in search for missing teen Ms Dogra said the job losses had not been taken lightly but were needed "to create a simpler, more focused and more sustainable Channel 4". Channel 4's chair, Geoff Cooper, said it would mean a "more sustainable and resilient organisation" that could maximise investment in content. A formal consultation with staff over the cuts will take place and the broadcaster said more details on its future strategy would be shared in the coming months.

At his first meeting with Co-operative Labour MPs, the prime minister pointed to the Supporters Direct organisation he chaired early in his career and said the government should "look to work on it again", sources who were present told Sky News. Supporters Direct helped set up more than 200 supporters trusts for football clubs, giving fans a voice and financial stake in how they operate. The movement saved many clubs from ruin with around 50 football clubs now fully or partially fan-owned, including EFL clubs AFC Wimbledon and Exeter. Under fan-owned models, financial surplus is traditionally reinvested back into the club rather than paid out as dividends to outside shareholders. No clubs operate this way in the Premier League but it has been praised as a solution to stop exploitation lower down in the game. One MP present at the meeting said fan-owned sport was "definitely a personal passion" of the prime minister, although they conceded the "list of pressing issues is a long one". Another said: "I think it is a passion and he saw the value around Supporters Direct. Definitely an appetite for change from the PM and MPs." Mr Burnham, a life-long Evertonian, supported the inception of Supporters Direct when working as a special adviser in Tony Blair's government and chaired the body between 2001 and 2005 after being elected as the MP for Leigh. In a book about the commercialisation of football published in 2001, he wrote: "I have always believed that football clubs belong more to their supporters than their shareholders. Some people have bits of paper to say they own a club's assets - stadium, training ground, brand - but the heart and soul of every club is the property of its fans." He has used similar language in response to the row over the World Cup sell-off plan. While it's not clear how the prime minister might take fan ownership forward formally, he is understood to have taken an interest in a recent report by the Co-operative Party, which proposed creating a "Supporters Direct 2.0". The initial body was amalgamated with other organisations in 2018 to create the Football Supporters' Association, which advocates for football supporters in England and Wales. However, the Co-op report says that while there have been strides to strengthen the voice of fans, such as the Independent Football Regulator, an explicit focus on ownership has been lost. Their report proposed a new agency that would provide support for fan ownership beyond football, highlighting increasing financial instability afflicting Rugby Union, Rugby League and cricket. Cricket clubs have traditionally operated as member owned, but a number of high-profile clubs are exploring breaking away from that model. Sceptics of fan-owned structures argue that while they can protect community roots and keep prices down, they can often struggle to compete with billionaire-owned clubs and attract financing. One Labour source said they were "unsure fan ownership is feasible at the top level". It is understood there is not active DCMS work to expand fan-and community owned sports clubs. Grassroots clubs The Co-operative's report also said the new agency could help communities take over grass roots local sports clubs to save them from closing down due to financial pressures. It pointed to the recently passed Community Right to Buy, which gives community groups a first right of refusal when eligible assets become available to buy, including sports clubs. The report suggested funding the agency through a partnership between government and professional sport, similar to the initial Supporters Direct. The Co-operative Party is a sister party to the Labour Party and advocates for businesses owned by local customers and staff. Around 40 Labour MPs are dual members, including Mr Burnham, making him the UK's first Co-operative prime minister. The party is led by Joe Fortune, a close ally of the PM's who is tipped to be in the running to be Labour's next general secretary. If confirmed, that could indicate a greater push toward co-operative models of ownership. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is also a Co-op MP. Caitlin Prowle, assistant general secretary of the Co-operative Party said clubs "across sport are facing financial precocity". She told Sky News: "We need to think seriously about who owns our sporting assets and who gets a say in their future. "Andy Burnham was a driving force in shifting sports ownership during the last Labour government and now he has the opportunity to do it again, with a renewed focus on co-operative ownership that puts fans and communities in control." A DCMS spokesperson said: "This government is firmly on the side of fans. We set up the independent football regulator to put supporters back at the heart of our national game and it is now written in law that they must have a say in major decisions at their clubs."

Just 20 minutes into the session, Hamilton was on course to set a very quick lap until he outbraked himself at the last corner and hit the barriers head-on, albeit at a relatively slow speed. He reversed out of the barriers but the front wing had dislodged itself and got stuck under the front right tyre, so Ferrari urged Hamilton to stop the car. Spanish GP: Schedule and how to watch new Madrid raceF1 2026 standings | F1 2026 calendar | F1 Gossip ColumnDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream F1 with no contract 📺 But the seven-time world champion wanted to limp back to the pit lane so he did not lose crucial running for qualifying later on at 3pm (build-up from 2.15pm), live on Sky Sports F1, before eventually coming to a halt in the middle sector. Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson feels Hamilton was wrong to drive for such a long time with a damaged car. "Any young driver that is watching this right now, you don't do that. You just don't do that. That's what you could have tried to do [get back to the pits] but that rule is there for a reason," he said. "If it [the front wing] went under the car completely and jacked your front wheels up and there were marshals on the track... you've got to think of all these scenarios." The crash caused a 45-minute red flag as the marshals repaired the barriers, with the clock being stopped with 15 minutes remaining so the drivers could get more laps around the new Madring. Antonelli, who leads the Drivers' Championship by 66 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, emerged on top with a blistering 1:32.797 to beat Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by 0.166s. McLaren showed promise with Oscar Piastri in third and Lando Norris in fourth - the latter missed almost all of second practice on Friday. Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fifth and Russell only sixth but it looks like pole position could be anyone's given the drivers are getting faster with every lap and the track is evolving. Haas' Oliver Bearman proved how difficult the Madring is with a big crash in the high-speed Turn 11, leaving his team with a race to get his car fixed for qualifying. Sky Sports F1's Spanish GP live schedule Saturday September 122.15pm: Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying build-up3pm: SPANISH GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*4.55pm: F3 Feature Race 16pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook Sunday September 138.40am: F3 Feature Race 210.20am: F2 Feature Race12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Spanish GP build-up2pm: THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX4pm: Chequered Flag: Spanish GP reaction5pm: Ted's Notebook *also on Sky Sports Main Event Formula 1 is in Madrid for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit with Sunday's race at 2pm (build-up from 12.30pm), live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime