Tags
British Prime Minister David Cameron is leaving his official 10 Downing Street this week to make way for Theresa May, but one resident is staying put: Larry the cat.
Larry has been stalking the corridors of power since 2011, when he was brought into the prime minister's office to handle pest control affairs.
Larry had a lingering look up at May as she entered Number 10 on Tuesday for Cameron's final cabinet meeting as prime minister.
And he did not seem perturbed by her trademark leopard-print kitten-heel shoes.
There had been fears that Larry would be following the Camerons out of the door when May takes over as prime minister on Wednesday.
But while government members nervously await their fate, officials insisted the nine-year-old brown and white tabby was staying on and would survive May's forthcoming reshuffle.
"It's a civil servant's cat and does not belong to the Camerons," a Cabinet Office spokeswoman said.
"He will be staying."
Larry, a rescue cat, was brought into Downing Street after a rat was spotted in two television news bulletins scurrying around outside the famous black door of the prime minister's residence.
However, Larry's work rate has been called into question.
Downing Street says the nation sends him daily gifts and treats but he spends much of his time "testing antique furniture for napping quality".
There have been resident mice-fighting cats in Downing Street since the 1920s. Some have even been given the title of "chief mouser to the Cabinet Office" and put on the state payroll.
The legendary Humphrey, a stray who took up residence under prime minister Margaret Thatcher and outstayed John Major, was sent into retirement in 1997 by Tony Blair, amid persistent speculation that his wife Cherie forced him out.
Humphrey was on the payroll, receiving £100 ($130) a year from the Cabinet Office budget.
Cameron's six-year government has tried to reduce Britain's budget deficit and Larry's upkeep is now paid for by Downing Street staff.
Larry has been seen in several stand-offs with Palmerston, the Foreign Office cat brought in in April.
He is also thought to have difficult relations with Freya, finance minister George Osborne's family cat.
Osborne's official residence is next door at 11 Downing Street and Freya would be on the move if May shifts Osborne from his Treasury post.
There are no comments.
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when you are saying farewell to those that have left a positive impression. That was the case earlier this month when Canada hosted Mexico in a friendly at BC Place stadium in Vancouver.
Some 60mn primary-school-age children have no access to formal education
Lekhwiya’s El Arabi scores the equaliser after Tresor is sent off; Tabata, al-Harazi score for QSL champions
The Yemeni Minister of Tourism, Dr Mohamed Abdul Majid Qubati, yesterday expressed hope that the 48-hour ceasefire in Yemen declared by the Command of Coalition Forces on Saturday will be maintained in order to lift the siege imposed on Taz City and ease the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged
Some 200 teachers from schools across the country attended Qatar Museum’s (QM) first ever Teachers Council at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) yesterday.
The Supreme Judiciary Council (SJC) of Qatar and the Indonesian Supreme Court (SCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on judicial co-operation, it was announced yesterday.
Sri Lanka is keen on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar as part of government policy to shift to clean energy, Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem has said.