Andy Burnham considers cat for No10 North
Andy Burnham is contemplating acquiring a cat for No10 North, following the widespread popularity of Larry the cat at Downing Street, reports BritPanorama.
Aides to the Prime Minister are advocating for a chief mouser to be introduced at the government’s new Manchester site. Suggested names for the potential new feline include “Gary” and “Barry,” in homage to Larry.
A senior source indicated, “Everyone loves Larry the cat. Now there is a concerted lobbying effort to get a cat for No10 North. But the building is owned by GCHQ, so they would have to get permission from them to do it.”
Larry, who was adopted by former PM David Cameron from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2011, has become something of a celebrity, now serving his seventh Prime Minister at the age of 19. His popularity extends beyond the UK, having met dignitaries such as Barack and Michelle Obama, and Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron.
While Burnham has a pet dog named Axel, he opted not to bring him to Downing Street, citing compatibility issues with Larry. The appeal of workplace cats has led to other departments adopting their own; the Treasury welcomed Gladstone in 2016, and the Foreign Office has Palmerston, named after the 19th-century Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston.
Burnham inaugurated No10 North in Manchester in July, shortly after becoming Prime Minister, with a focus on enhancing economic growth and devolution across the North.
This move to consider a cat for the Northern outpost reflects a light-hearted yet strategic approach to leadership in a new environment, potentially aiming to foster a more relatable image of government. The cultural significance of such a decision cannot be underestimated in the realm of public engagement.
