Cameron out, but Larry remains

OUTGOING British prime minister David Cameron left the official residence in London, 10 Downing Street, on Wednesday but another resident of the famous address won’t be going anywhere.

Larry, the resident Down- ing Street cat, will remain in place, having cemented his position at No 10 despite widespread doubts about his vermin-hunting abilities.

The nine-year-old tabby is the government’s official Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, a tradition with its claws in the 16th century court of Henry VIII. “Sadly I can’t take Larry with me, he belongs to the house and the staff love him very much, as do I,”

Cameron said on Wednesday, address- ing mischievous social media gossip that he and the cat did not get on.

After TV crews repeatedly spotted mice sprinting across the doorstep of the official residence in 2011, Cameron took his family to a south London animal shelter and picked Larry.

The tomcat’s record of kills has been hotly disputed. Nonetheless, he has become a Downing Street fixture.

No 10 has described Larry in the past as a cat who “brings a lot of pleasure to a lot of people” and was on Tuesday photographed standing guard at the front gate when incoming leader The- resa May walked past. –

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.