Cleo Watson is a British author and former special adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.[1]
Education
editWatson attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls.[2] She grew up in Hay-on-Wye and studied politics and economics at Cardiff University.[3]
Career
editIn 2012, Watson interned for the Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign.[3] She joined 10 Downing Street in 2019, as an ally of Dominic Cummings and a former employee at Vote Leave.[4]
She described working for Boris Johnson during the COVID-19 pandemic as being a like a "nanny" to him.[5] She was fined after the Partygate scandal.[6] Following the Sue Gray report it emerged that Watson had organised the event.[7] In November 2020, she left Downing Street alongside Dominic Cummings and Lee Cain.[8] In September 2022, she was a panellist on the debut episode of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC One.[9]
Watson is an author of two books.[10] In 2024, she described Johnson as "quiet, bookish and, occasionally, extremely nasty".[11]
Personal life
editWatson's sister Annabel worked as chief of staff for Theresa May from 2006 and 2010 when she was Shadow Leader of the House of Commons and Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary.[2]
In popular culture
editWatson was portrayed by Naomi Battrick in the Channel 4 drama Partygate.[12] She was portrayed by Greta Bellamacina in the Sky Atlantic docudrama television miniseries This England.[13]
Bibliography
editReferences
edit- ^ Croft, Ethan (2023-05-25). "Scandalous 'bonkbuster' book by ex-Boris advisor causes a fuss in Westminster". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ a b "Boris Johnson's former aide describes 'nannying' the needy PM during the pandemic - Wales Online". www.walesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ a b Lawford, Emily. "Cleo Watson: Organising a Number 10 party was "obviously fucking stupid"". www.prospectmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Hatton, Ben (2022-07-29). "Former aide to Boris Johnson says she felt like his 'nanny'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Chaplain, Chloe (2022-07-29). "'I was like Boris's nanny': No 10 aide reveals how she had to mind the PM during the pandemic". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Burge, Amy; McAlister, Jodi (2024-06-19). "Whips, adultery and a 'Loin King': what is it about Tory political players writing scandalous books?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Sue Gray partygate report: The key findings at a glance". BBC News. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Boris Johnson appoints new chief of staff after Cummings exit". BBC News. 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "What's first for the new prime minister?". BBC One / BBC News. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ Watson, Cleo (2022-07-28). "Cleo Watson – Boris Johnson's former aide, now published novelist – lifts the lid on life in Westminster". Tatler. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Watson, Cleo (2024-06-20). "Quiet, bookish and occasionally extremely nasty; Cleo Watson on the real Boris Johnson - as he announces his upcoming memoir, Unleashed". Tatler. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ "Meet the cast of Partygate on Channel 4". Radio Times. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Yossman, K. J. (2021-07-30). "'This Sceptred Isle' Star Greta Bellamacina Set to Lead Italy-U.K. Feature 'Commedia". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Deacon, Michael (2023-05-25). "A romp through Westminster's sex life – and who's this floppy-haired character?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Kennedy, Kara (2024-06-06). "Who knew the sex lives of MPs could be this much fun?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2024-06-23.