As UK gets 7th prime minister in 10 years, 10 Downing Street has a more permanent resident — Larry the Cat

In the past 16 years, the political instability has been such that that six British prime ministers have come and gone — Andy Burnham is the seventh to take over the United Kingdom. But Larry the Cat has remained in the office for all these years and endeared himself to the realm as the symbol of the British spirit.

Larry arrived at 10 Downing Street in 2011 as the Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office and has served the realm for more than 15 years — not just protecting the Prime Minister's Office from rats and mice but also endearing himself to staffers, visiting world leaders, and journalists who have documented his life for years.

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In the meantime, only one out of six prime ministers —David Cameron— has completed their term.

While prime ministers failed to stabilise the politics, Larry steered Number 10 through the Brexit referendum, the chaotic withdrawal from the European Union (EU), the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine and shadow war with Europe.

So far, six British prime ministers have served in the Larry era.

They include Cameron, the only one to complete the term, and Liz Truss, the shortest-serving prime minister who resigned after 49 days.

British Prime Ministers who have served under Larry the Cat

At Number 10, Larry has been at the centre of some of the most memorable visuals, such as playing with former US President Barack Obama, delaying US President Donald Trump's motorcade by napping under his limousine, and frequently getting clicked with world leaders ranging from French President Emmanuel Macron to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Justin Ng, a photographer who is often part of the Number 10's press pool, told Guardian that Larry's "steadfastness and his unparalleled ability to appear at the right moment and pose for all of us makes him so endearing to everyone”.

Then-US President Barack Obama meets Larry the Cat along with then-British Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street in 2011. (Photo: White House)

A Downing Street source previously told Guardian: “The minute something happens on the street, especially an official visit, like clockwork, he’ll be out the front. He loves the red carpet.”

Despite such an outsized role in British polity, Larry's official description on the PMO's website is quite modest.

"Larry spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality. His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house. Larry says this is still ‘in tactical planning stage’," the website modestly states.

Larry 3rd-longest-serving Downing Street occupant

In the British history, Larry is the third-longest-serving occupant of 10 Downing Street — outlasting iconic figures such as Margaret Thatcher and Sir Winston Churchill. In modern times, no one comes close.

Only Sir Robert Walpole, who served as the prime minister for 20 years between 1721 and 1742, and William Pitt the Younger, who served for 18 years in two terms (1783-1801, 1804-06), have served longer than Larry at the seat of the British government.

Larry also apparently has his own standards. Reportedly, he refused to pose with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet early in the term and did not allow Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and disgraced former minister Matt Hancock to stroke him.

But it's not always rosy. Larry has had frequent confrontations with another cat, Palmerston, who lived at the Foreign Office, that were seen publicly.

But, when a police officer at the Downing Street was asked if they ever intervened, they said they never stepped in.

“Oh no, no. You don’t get involved in a cat fight,” the officer told Guardian.