He has already had five conservative prime ministers under him.
London:
There has been one figure of stability in the past fourteen years of political turmoil in Britain: Larry, the Downing Street cat.
With the July 4 general election fast approaching, the aging tabby could be in line for his sixth prime minister.
He has already had five Conservative Prime Ministers under him, but if the polls are correct, he will soon have his first from the Labor Party.
When the incumbent Rishi Sunak leaves, he would also take his fox-red Labrador retriever Nova with him. Not that Larry would mind.
According to Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, the couple have had a number of “heated arguments”. But Larry has always had the upper hand.
Labor leader Keir Starmer recently told the BBC that his family has a cat, Jojo, who screws up his children more than he does.
They also have a hamster, Bear, he told the Metro newspaper. But it is uncertain whether either would go with him if he wins.
Larry has fiercely protected his territory and often fought to be the top cat, along with his State Department colleague, Palmerston.
His rival eventually retreated to the countryside.
Urban foxes and unsuspecting pigeons have also been chased away, although a feathered intruder narrowly avoided its claws as the media watched.
Lifespan
Larry made his first appearance in Downing Street on February 15, 2011, after being adopted from Battersea shelter in south London.
He was recruited under then Prime Minister David Cameron to get rid of mice and was even given an official title: ‘Chief Mouser’.
But his performance in that area left much to be desired, despite some early successes.
Cameron himself tried to quash rumors that he and Larry were not getting along, while on the political front, reporters said he is friends with journalists.
“He’s interested,” said the aptly named BBC political correspondent Helen Catt in a recent feature about Larry.
“He sometimes comes by to watch when you are there with the camera crew. He likes to see what the press is doing.”
But that also has its drawbacks, she added.
“When you’re in Downing Street doing lives, you’re always very aware that if he turns up behind you, a lot of people are really not going to listen to what you say anymore,” she said.
Before the general election, Larry posted his campaign manifesto on his official @Number10cat social media account.
“I can’t vote in the general election, but I have to live with whoever you choose. No pressure,” said a message after Sunak announced the election on May 22.
“Whatever the outcome of the election, I will be here to keep an eye on things,” said another.
Interviewed by AFP on the 10th anniversary of his arrival in power, Larry, through the human running his social media account, revealed the secret of his longevity.
“The most important thing to remember is that I live here permanently, the politicians just stay with me for a while until they get fired,” he said.
“They all find out sooner or later that it’s me who’s in charge.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
