Cleo Watson

Friday

Cleo Watson

Why Labour’s fate will be decided in the Strait of Hormuz

From our UK edition

36 min listen

For this week’s Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by The Spectator's John Power, feminist campaigner Julie Bindel and former adviser to Boris Johnson – and co-host of the In The Room podcast, Cleo Watson. They explore the idea that the Strait of Hormuz, not Makerfield, will determine the fate of the current Labour government. Starmer may be facing a challenge to his authority from mayoral shapeshifter Andy Burnham, but neither the PM or the wannabe MP will be rewarded if grocery and energy prices continue to soar. How much can be done to insulate Britain from future pain? And do they trust Labour to do so? Also this week: is Wes Streeting a better option than Burnham?

Thursday

Cleo Watson

Inside parliament’s ‘summer of sex’ | Cindy Gallop & Cleo Watson

From our UK edition

22 min listen

It is a hard time to be a Labour MP. The polls are flagging, the economy is stagnating and the Middle East remains in crisis. But facing electoral armageddon in three weeks’ time, one brave backbencher has taken it up on herself to raise her party’s spirits. Samantha Niblett, the Honourable Member for South Derbyshire, is launching a campaign to make 2026 the ‘summer of sex’. On today's podcast, Tim Shipman and James Heale make sense of the story with Cindy Gallop, the sextech entrepreneur who's working with Niblett on the campaign, and Cleo Watson, former special adviser and author of novels Whips and Cleavage. Produced by Megan McElroy.

Inside parliament’s ‘summer of sex’ | Cindy Gallop & Cleo Watson

Thursday

Cleo Watson

The curious case of Morgan McSweeney’s missing phone

From our UK edition

20 min listen

Questions are being asked about Morgan McSweeney's missing phone, which he reported stolen to police last year. What might seem like a minor case of petty theft actually has serious implications for the investigation into Peter Mandelson's appointment. It also raises questions about Keir Starmer's general approach to government. James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman and Cleo Watson, former special adviser to Boris Johnson, about the case – and also about how it can hurt public trust in government. Do you believe in cock up – or conspiracy? Produced by Oscar Edmondson and Patrick Gibbons.

The curious case of Morgan McSweeney's missing phone

Thursday

Cleo Watson

The nostalgic joy of Frinton-on-Sea

From our UK edition

For the recent heatwave, it was my mission to escape our little Wiltshire cottage, where it hit 35°C. It has one of those very poor structural designs unique to Britain that, like plastic conservatories or the Tube, is useless in hot weather. First, we went to stay with friends in Frinton-on-Sea with our English bulldog, who was born in nearby Clacton and is shamelessly happy to be back among his people. Some years ago I lived in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, a living museum of America’s pre-revolutionary settler history. Frinton doesn’t go quite that far – there are no ersatz yeomen milking doleful cows – but to visit is to enter a time warp back to the mid-1930s. It’s the sort of place where Hercule Poirot might solve a crime while en vacances.

Friday

Cleo Watson

In defence of Dominic Cummings

From our UK edition

Sometimes it's tricky to be a friend of Dominic Cummings, especially if you’re also friends with Helen MacNamara. I worked with them both in government during the Covid pandemic and couldn’t have more admiration for either of them. I can remember with absolute clarity Dominic explaining in March 2020 how the NHS would crumble without a swift change of strategy. Helen was boundless in her support and sense. She was the most senior woman by a mile who, yes, had to argue for everything, from proper PPE for women to changing the rules on births and miscarriages to allow partners to attend, rather than open up pheasant shooting (incidentally Dominic agreed with her).

Friday

Cleo Watson

The Cleo Watson Edition

From our UK edition

Cleo Watson is a former No.10 advisor to Boris Johnson and now author or the recently published book Whips, a novel set in SW1 filled with sex, politics and scandals. On the podcast, Cleo talks about her life growing up in a big family; her career into politics which began in America on Obama's campaign and led to her advising the likes of Theresa May and Boris Johnson; and her recent departure from politics which gave her the chance to finish the book.

Saturday

Cleo Watson

The girls of St Thinian’s

From our UK edition

After the South American models Luisel Ramos and Carolina Reston starved themselves to death last year to try to reach size ‘zero’, the fashion world promised to be more responsible. It hung its head in shame, and even chivvied some size-12 girls on to the catwalk for London Fashion Week last month. So I imagine that most people think that the whole zero fad has finally faded away, and that teenage girls like me and my school-friends have developed healthier role models and a happier relationship with our food. Well, I’m sorry to disappoint any Spectator-reading parents, but in my experience it’s worse than ever. My school is deeply ordinary — a fee-paying school but not one of the famous ones, not particularly posh or expensive.