London:

Larry the Downing Street cat is facing a challenge to his position as the British government’s chief mouser — a cute “Russian” kitten.

New prime minister Keir Starmer and his family, who moved into Number 10 after the Labour leader’s thumping general election win in July, brought their family cat JoJo with them.

Now after “negotiations” with the Starmer children — who had wanted a German Shepherd dog — it has been agreed that Jojo will also be joined by a “Siberian kitten”.

“There’s been a long summer of negotiations, back and forth, different options,” Starmer told BBC radio in an interview broadcast on Monday.

“But now we’ve gone for… a kitten instead of a dog,” he added.

But Larry has been top cat at the British prime ministerial residence in central London for the last 13 years.

The 17-year-old tabby was adopted from a cat rescue charity in 2011 to keep the Downing Street mice at bay, although then premier David Cameron revealed his performance left something to be desired.

Despite that, Larry has become a media star — particularly popular with journalists — and even has his own social media account @Number10cat.

Starmer — Larry’s sixth prime minister — revealed that feline rivalry was not the only issue with having pets in Downing Street.

“The problem we’ve got, which is the same for JoJo the cat, is that the only door out of our new flat is bomb proof,” he said.

“Therefore, getting a cat flap is proving a little bit difficult,” he added.

– ‘Larry Bridges’ –

Given Larry’s celebrity status as the greatest survivor of the political upheaval of recent years, officials have even drawn up a detailed plan in the event of his death.

Like that for the late Queen Elizabeth II, which was codenamed “London Bridge”, Larry’s plan has been dubbed “Larry Bridges”.

The arrival of the Starmers’ new pet was welcomed by Sarah Elliott, central veterinary officer for the charity Cats Protection.

But she added a few words of advice for the Starmers as they try to integrate the new addition.

“As the junior member of the growing cat coalition at Downing Street, the prime minister and his family will need to take plenty of time to slowly introduce the new addition to JoJo and Larry.

And she added: “Young kittens can be exhausting for older statesmen like Larry, so he’ll also need a safe, quiet area to retreat to when the energy of a younger member of the team gets a bit too much,” she added.

Larry himself on Tuesday made it clear he was very still very much in charge.

“The kitten will REPORT to Larry the Cat,” he said on X, via the human running his social media account.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

London:

There has been one figure of stability in the last 14 years of political turmoil in the UK — Larry the Downing Street cat.

Now, with a general election fast approaching on July 4, the ageing 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.

Incumbent 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”. But 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. But it’s uncertain if either would move with him if he wins.

Larry has been fiercely protective of his territory, frequently fighting to be the top cat with his counterpart at the foreign ministry, 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.

Longevity 

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”.

But his performance in that department left much to be desired, despite a few early successes.

Cameron himself tried to quash rumours that he and Larry did not get along, while reporters on the politics beat have said he is friendly with journalists.

“He’s interested,” the appropriately named 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.”

But 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.

For the general election, Larry has set out his campaign manifesto on his official @Number10cat social media account.

“I don’t get to vote in the general election but I do have to live with whoever you elect. No pressure,” one post read after Sunak announced the election on May 22.

“Whatever the result of the election, I’ll be here to keep an eye on things,” read another.

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.”.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)