Super troupers: the Abba party-goers

CARRIE JOHNSON

The woman blamed by Dominic Cummings for his ousting from Downing Street. She had not yet married Boris Johnson at the time Mr Cummings left his post, but was viewed with deep suspicion by his camp, which believed she had far too much influence over the Prime Minister and referred to her as “Princess Nut Nuts”. She is said to have been instrumental in the hiring of Allegra Stratton as Mr Johnson’s press secretary, which brought the rivalry to a head.

JOSH GRIMSTONE

A long-time special adviser to Michael Gove, Mr Grimstone is a close friend of Mrs Johnson and is said to have been present in the Downing Street flat on the night of Mr Cummings’s departure. Mr Gove was based in the Cabinet Office during the pandemic, meaning Mr Grimstone was in close contact with colleagues in No10. It was reported earlier that Sue Gray had received evidence that Mr Grimstone had visited the Downing Street flat regularly during lockdown.

HENRY NEWMAN

The Prime Minister says that on the night of the alleged Abba-themed party in Downing Street he was interviewing Cabinet Office special adviser Henry Newman about switching jobs to No 10. Mrs Johnson counts Mr Newman as one of her “favourite people” and Mr Johnson has referred to him as one of his “three musketeers” along with fellow advisers Henry Cook and Meg Powell-chandler. He has since left No 10 to return to working for his old boss, Mr Gove.