LARRY THE CAT OUTRANKS SUNAK AND STARMER IN POPULARITY POLL

Sunak. Starmer. Larry? Yes, it seems the UK General Election held on 4th July might have been a three-horse race. With a new poll from Ipsos suggesting Larry the Cat is more popular amongst Britons than both Rishi Sunak and his successor Keir Starmer. 

WHO IS LARRY THE CAT?

Adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in 2011, the seventeen-year-old domestic tabby has lived at 10 Downing Street ever since. 

While intended as a pet for then-prime minister David Cameron and his family, Larry has now seen six changes of premiership. And met high-profile Downing Street guests like former US president Barack Obama. 

Larry currently holds the position of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office. (And purportedly caught four mice in a single fortnight in 2013.) But does his popularity with the British public suggest Larry has a shot at securing a more prestigious title?

WHAT DID THE POLL SAY?

Ipsos polled over 1000 UK adults between 28th June and 1st July 2024. Asking: To what extent, if at all, do you have a favourable or unfavourable opinion of Larry the Number 10 Cat? And a sizeable 44% of respondents indicated their opinion was favourable. When asked the same about the soon-to-be-axed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak? Only 22% responded positively. With his eventual successor Keir Starmer obtaining a ranking of 34%. 

Ouch. 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR LARRY?

Despite his popularity amongst voters, a career in politics seems unlikely for Larry. (#LarryforPM, anyone?) But some change will soon be afoot for the mouse-catching moggy. As Larry makes room for a new housemate: Jojo, the much-loved Starmer family cat. We’ll just leave this here.

Photo: UK Cabinet Office