There has been one figure of stability in the past 14 years of political turmoil in the UK — Larry the Downing Street cat.
With a general election on July 4, the aging tabby could be in line for his sixth prime minister.
He has already had five Conservative prime ministers serve under him, but if polls are correct, he will soon get his first from the Labour Party.
Photo: AP
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s departure would see him take his fox-red labrador retriever Nova, too. Not that Larry would mind.
According to Sunak’s wife, Akshata Murty, the pair have had some “heated exchanges.”
However, Larry has always prevailed.
Labour leader Keir Starmer recently told the BBC that his family has a cat, Jojo, that his children spoil more than him.
They also have a hamster, Bear, he told the Metro newspaper.
It remains to be seen if either would move with him if he wins.
Larry has been fiercely protective of his territory, frequently fighting to be top cat with his counterpart at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Palmerston.
His rival eventually retired to the countryside.
Urban foxes and unsuspecting pigeons have also been chased away, although one feathered interloper narrowly avoided his clutches as the media looked on.
Larry made his first appearance in Downing Street on Feb. 15, 2011, after being adopted from the Battersea shelter in south London.
He was recruited under then-British prime minister David Cameron to get rid of mice and even given an official title: “Chief Mouser.”
However, his performance in that department left much to be desired, despite a few early successes.
Cameron himself tried to quash rumors that he and Larry did not get along, while reporters on the politics beat have said he is friendly with journalists.
“He’s interested,” BBC political correspondent Helen Catt said in a recent item on Larry. “He tends to come up and have a look when you’re there with the camera crew, he likes to see what the press are up to.”
That has its downsides, she added.
“When you’re in Downing Street and you’re doing lives, you’re always very aware that if he pops out behind you, a lot of people really aren’t going to be listening to what you’re saying anymore,” she said.
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