Cleo Watson

Cleo Watson is a British author and former special adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.[1]

Education

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Watson attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls.[2] She grew up in Hay-on-Wye and studied politics and economics at Cardiff University.[3]

Career

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In 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

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Watson'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]

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Watson 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

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References

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  1. ^ Croft, Ethan (2023-05-25). "Scandalous 'bonkbuster' book by ex-Boris advisor causes a fuss in Westminster". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b Lawford, Emily. "Cleo Watson: Organising a Number 10 party was "obviously fucking stupid"". www.prospectmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  4. ^ Hatton, Ben (2022-07-29). "Former aide to Boris Johnson says she felt like his 'nanny'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Sue Gray partygate report: The key findings at a glance". BBC News. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  8. ^ "Boris Johnson appoints new chief of staff after Cummings exit". BBC News. 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  9. ^ "What's first for the new prime minister?". BBC One / BBC News. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Meet the cast of Partygate on Channel 4". Radio Times. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
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