After 14 years of Tory control, a lot is about to change in Downing Street. But it’s not just politicians who are making headlines on election day.
Sir Keir Starmer will take over No10 from Rishi Sunak, so it’s out with the old and in with the new. But what will become of Larry the Cat, its best-known resident?
Here’s a quick introduction in case you’re not familiar with this famous feline.
Stefan Rousseau / PA
Larry is a 17-year-old cat, born in January 2007. In 2011, Larry, a stray who ended up being taken in by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, went to live with then Prime Minister David Cameron and his children at No10.
And Larry stayed behind, even when the Camerons said goodbye to Downing Street. He has resided there ever since, spending his days in the house that Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Sunak were occupying.
Although he has co-existed with all five prime ministers, he has never actually been owned by any of them. Instead, Downing Street workers look after him and provide voluntary funding for his lifestyle.
As absurd as it may seem, Number 10 is where Downing Street claims Larry works.
“Welcoming guests to the house, examining security defences and testing old furniture for nap quality” are all included in his duties. However, things also get a little more serious for Larry, as he is now formally employed by the Cabinet Office as head of rat-catching. Larry got this back in April 2011 for his first kill, which was a poor rodent in the corridors of No10.
He’s also had his fair share of encounters with international dignitaries; on one occasion, he chose to stand in front of Donald Trump’s £1.2 million armoured Cadillac. Plus, in 2011, Lord Cameron revealed to the BBC that, oddly enough, Larry had a crush on Barack Obama. Obama gave him a stroke, but he didn’t mind it one bit afterwards.
What happens to Larry the Cat now that there is a new PM?
Despite the change of residence from Number 10, Larry the Cat will remain in Downing Street and welcome Sir Keir Starmer as the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
Larry will join the Starmer family as they prepare to move into No10, along with Sir Keir, his wife Vic Starmer and their two teenage daughters.
The family also has a cat named Jojo, so it will be interesting to see if the two get along.
You can follow Larry directly on the X website, formerly Twitter, where he provides his views and a wealth of insight into the UK government.
