The Latest Breaking News from Cleo Watson

Keir Starmer ‘threw Olly Robbins under the bus’ in wake of Mandelson vetting row

Exclusive: Helen MacNamara calls Starmer’s decision to sack Olly Robbins ‘unacceptable’

The Independent UK · Apr 17

Voices: The government’s in big trouble – here are the 5 things I’d do to fix it

COMMENT: From farming to fuel, the warning signs are already here, says ‘In the Room’ co-host Helen MacNamara. What we need is crisis planning, which is about imagination, not optimism. Right now, the UK risks lacking in both

The Independent UK · Apr 14

Voices: I look eight years younger after quitting politics

COMMENT: When I worked in No 10, I had a period where I dreamed every night that Chris Grayling was hunting me from the skies, Hunger Games style – so take it from me, Westminster does things to you, says Cleo Watson

The Independent UK · Apr 7

5 new podcasts to listen to this week

These are our top podcast picks.

The Independent UK · Feb 26

‘Dread ekes out of the walls’: How it feels to work in No 10 during a crisis

In this clip from The Independent’s In The Room podcast, hosts Helen and Cleo reflect on their memories of how ominous No 10 can feel when the government is in crisis.

The Independent UK · Feb 23

Voices: If you think Westminster is a boring boys’ club, why not join ours?

COMMENT : ‘In The Room’, a podcast from Cleo Watson, former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson, and Helen MacNamara, deputy cabinet secretary, launches this Friday exclusively from The Independent. Here they explain why it’s a must-listen for those who want to cut through the noise in SW1

The Independent UK · Feb 17

Bored of your beach read? Dive into these politicians’ steamy novels

From Brussels to Westminster, top European politicians have turned their experiences into steamy novels, mixing romance, scandal, and risqué fantasies. Diplomats, ministers, and MPs reveal a surprising, erotic side behind the political curtain.

Euronews · Aug 19, 2025

Your ultimate summer reading list: the best new books to take on holiday

Wondering what to read on your lounger this summer? From an erotic political novel set in the heart of Westminster to a non-fiction with overtones of The Talented Mr Ripley, Alex Peake-Tomkinson shares the most exciting new titles of 2024

Evening Standard · Jul 11, 2024

Whips, adultery and a ‘Loin King’: what is it about Tory political players writing scandalous books?

Cleo Watson, former co-deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson, was fined in the infamous “PartyGate” scandal involving gatherings held at government buildings while the United Kingdom was under a pandemic lockdown. The scandal ultimately saw Johnson step down as prime minister.

The Conversation · Jun 19, 2024

Nick Cave: Vampire’s Wife was Susie’s way of mourning our son

The musician spoke out for the first time since his wife’s brand shut up shop

Evening Standard · Jun 7, 2024