In the past 14 years of political turmoil in Great Britain, there has been one figure of stability – Larry the Downing Street cat. As Hina writes, with the 4th of July general election fast approaching, the aging cat could welcome its sixth prime minister.
Larry was in Downing Street during the tenure of five Conservative Prime Ministers, and if the polls prove correct, he could soon welcome a Labor Prime Minister as well.
With the departure of current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from Downing Street, his Labrador retriever Nova would also leave, and Larry probably wouldn’t mind that.
Sunak’s wife Aksata Murti said that Lari and Nova had “fierce fights”.
Labor leader Keir Starmer recently said his family has a cat and a hamster. However, it remains to be seen who will move into Downing Street if Starmer wins.
Larry made his first appearance in Downing Street on February 15, 2011 after being adopted from the Battersea shelter in south London.
He was recruited under then prime minister David Cameron to get rid of mice and even given an official title: “Chief Mouser”.
Interviewed by AFP on the 10th anniversary of his arrival in power, Larry, via the human running his social media account, revealed the secret to his longevity.
“The key thing to remember is that I live here permanently, the politicians just lodge with me for a bit until they’re fired,” he said.
“They all work out sooner or later that it’s me that runs the place.”
Photo credit: Rex
