Tory PR at centre of Boris Johnson’s divorce scandal ‘parties like she’s a Love Island star’
Carrie Symonds, 30, was until recently the director of communications for the Conservative party
THE blonde Tory aide who's been linked to Boris Johnson is a "very intelligent" PR expert - but also loves a party, according to friends.
Carrie Symonds, 30, was the Conservatives' director of communications until earlier this year.
Those who've worked with her call her "vivacious" - and compare her social set to the cast of Love Island because they're all so good-looking.
Miss Symonds was thrust into the public eye over the weekend when The Sun named her as the young aide who has grown close to Boris as his marriage broke down.
She is now in hiding as Boris has tried to divert attention from his personal life by making a string of controversial political comments.
But pals of Carrie say this is highly uncharacteristic - because she usually loves being the centre of things.
"I can’t remember her doing any work that was really good but she was always at every party going.
“The Tories love a social gathering and there were always a lot of parties for her to be at.
“Her friends were all beautiful. It looked like an episode of Love Island."
Miss Symonds was named the second most influential PR operator in Britain during her time as head of the Tories' comms operation.
But she was apparently squeezed out of the post in recent months and was due to start a new job at news organisation Bloomberg today.
A source : "She was eased out of CCHQ by Brandon Lewis.
"She was director of communications under a previous chairman, and was sometimes shockingly indiscreet in her loyalty to Boris and criticism of Theresa May, and would actively promote Johnson's interests in front of May's."
Another added: "She was always playing the game. It never felt like she was doing it for the party."
Carrie, a graduate of Warwick University, has also worked for senior Tories including Sajid Javid, John Whittingdale and Zac Goldsmith.
A friend said: "Carrie is a person for whom the word vivacious could have been invented. She's highly intelligent, very pretty, very sexy."
She is reported to have boasted of her friendship with Boris - showing off texts he sent her while she was at a wedding.
Mr Johnson is now going through a divorce from his wife of 25 years, Marina Wheeler.
She is expected to file divorce papers imminently, citing adultery as the reason for the breakdown of their relationship.
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