GWYNETH PALTROW hosted a fund-raiser for Barack Obama in London last night (19.09.12), with guests asked to fork out £9,000 each to show their support for the US President’s re-election campaign.


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If that sounds pricey, spare a thought for attendees at the New York Obama fund-raiser the night before, for which guests had to stump up $40,000 (about £25,000), though they did have the advantage over their London counterparts of Obama’s presence. Call it £16,000 for a presidential handshake.

Paltrow – who recently admitted to “a need to validate myself or feel special” – was joined at the do by Cameron Diaz, after the pair had spent the day together looking at wedding dresses and hiring boats out on the Thames.

Also at the fund-raiser, held at the private members’ Mark’s Club in Mayfair, were designer Tom Ford, Vogue editor Anne Wintour, Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern and Natalie Massenet, founder of Net-a-Porter.

On top of passing around the hat last night, Paltrow has already given $20,000 (about £s;12,300) to the Obama campaign, while Ford has parted with $75,000 (about £46,000.