Carrie Symonds seen for first time since she was linked to Boris Johnson

A former Tory party aide has been pictured out and about for the first time since she was propelled into a row at the centre of British politics.

Carrie Symonds was unknown to most of the public before her close friendship with Boris Johnson came under the spotlight when he announced he and his wife were divorcing last week.

The reports – coupled with a strong attack by Boris on Theresa May’s Brexit plans – led to rumours in Whitehall that the former Foreign Secretary was ‘clearing the decks’ of potentially damaging stories before launching a leadership battle.

Carrie Symonds, the former Tory aide said to have developed a close friendship with Boris Johnson, was pictured for the first time since his divorce announcement last week

She was seen in the countryside as friends say she is going through a difficult time

She was seen in the countryside as friends say she is going through a difficult time

Miss Symonds, 30, has not commented on the claims she and Boris had become close and has not been seen since details of their friendship were first published.

But the PR professional was spotted chatting with a friend in the countryside this week as she sits out what friends have said is a difficult time.

She delayed starting a new role Bloomberg Philanthropies, the charitable arm of the City tech giant, this week after leaving her role with the Tory party last month. 

There were claims Miss Symonds – whose work has been praised by former colleagues – was forced out after becoming caught in the crossfire between Boris and Number 10.

A number of prominent women in Westminster, including sports minister Tracey Crouch and MPs Anna Soubry and Stella Creasy, have complained at what they say is ‘misogynist’ treatment Miss Symonds has received since the reports emerged.

Westminster has been awash with rumours that Eurosceptics are plotting to try to topple Prime Minister Theresa May because they think her ‘Chequers’ Brexit plan makes too many concessions to the EU.

Miss Symonds' friendship with the former Foreign Secretary emerged as it was rumoured he was plotting a leadership challenge to PM Theresa May

Miss Symonds’ friendship with the former Foreign Secretary emerged as it was rumoured he was plotting a leadership challenge to PM Theresa May

Miss Symonds was seen laughing with Mr Johnson outside a ball in London earlier this year

Miss Symonds was seen laughing with Mr Johnson outside a ball in London earlier this year

Boris was seen arriving home to Oxford looking disheveled earlier this week

He looked slightly fresher yesterday morning as he set off for the US

Boris was seen arriving home to Oxford looking disheveled earlier this week. He looked slightly fresher yesterday morning as he set off for the US

After Mr Johnson quit his role as Foreign Secretary and launched a stinging attack on the plan, it was thought he could be the man to challenge the Prime Minister in any leadership election.

The announcement that he and Marina Wheeler, his wife of 25 years, added further fuel to fire with The Sun reporting Ms Wheeler is citing his ‘adultery’ in divorce papers. 

Boris has remained in the public eye since his divorce was announced, attending a meeting of Eurosceptics in Parliament this week and speaking at an event in Washington DC last night.

Mr Johnson spoke at the American Enterprise Institute after collecting the Irving Kristol Award overnight.

In comments that will refuel speculation he wants to oust Mrs May from No 10, the ex-Foreign Secretary said his top priority as PM would be social mobility.

Boris Johnson posed for pictures with guests at a black tie gala in Washington last night

Boris Johnson posed for pictures with guests at a black tie gala in Washington last night

In comments that will refuel speculation he wants to oust Theresa May from No 10, the ex-Foreign Secretary said his top priority as PM would be social mobility

In comments that will refuel speculation he wants to oust Theresa May from No 10, the ex-Foreign Secretary said his top priority as PM would be social mobility

Mr Johnson also renewed his demand for Brexit to mean a clean cut with Brussels and truly ‘take back control’. 

In his first major intervention since revelations about his love life and impending divorce, Mr Johnson also vowed to keep saying things his critics consider ‘absolutely outrageous’.

Asked for his top priority for Britain, Mr Johnson said: ‘Social mobility. If you think back to the great achievements of the Thatcher era, it was about helping people to seize control of their own destiny.

‘It was about buying shares or buying their own homes … We need to recover that momentum.’

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