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The Downing Street cat went viral after joking that being fed mattered more than whether Keir Starmer stayed in power.
Larry the cat moves away as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer greets French President Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
As British Prime Minister Keir Starmer fights to hold on to his position amid growing unrest within the Labour Party, one resident of 10 Downing Street appears entirely unfazed by the political chaos unfolding around him — Larry the Cat.
The 19-year-old feline, officially appointed Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office in 2011, became an unlikely social media star on Tuesday as Britain’s political crisis deepened following Labour’s poor local and regional election results and fresh calls for Starmer to step down.
‘Most Important Thing Is Me Being Fed’: Larry’s Viral Response
While Starmer spent the day battling questions over his political future after multiple junior ministers resigned and dozens of Labour lawmakers urged him to quit, Larry was busy making repeated appearances outside Downing Street, strolling in and out of the famous black door as television crews camped outside.
Soon enough, the cat’s official X account weighed in on the turmoil.
“Whether Starmer stays or goes we can all agree that me being fed is the most important thing,” Larry posted.
The remark quickly went viral, drawing over 20,000 likes and thousands of reposts as social media users turned the Downing Street cat into the internet’s comic relief amid the mounting political uncertainty.
“Prime ministers come and go but Larry is forever,” one user wrote.
Another joked: “Forgot this is the only Cabinet member with a positive approval rating.”
A third user appeared to settle Britain’s leadership debate in a single sentence, writing: “Give Larry the title of Honorific Prime Minister. He is the most stable bureaucrat in English government and has 19 years of experience.”
AI Video of Crying Starmer Adds to Online Frenzy
Larry, who has served under six British prime ministers beginning with David Cameron, has become something of a national institution in the UK, surviving Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and now potentially Keir Starmer.
Even as Labour’s internal crisis intensified, social media users appeared more focused on Larry’s calm indifference to the turmoil than the party’s leadership arithmetic.
At the same time, another viral moment circulating online added to the frenzy around Starmer’s uncertain future. An AI-generated video widely shared on X showed the British PM apparently being thrown out of 10 Downing Street, crying beside a suitcase outside the iconic Number 10 door. In the manipulated clip, former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner — widely seen as a potential challenger if Starmer’s position weakens further — appeared to laugh at him.
The video, though clearly fabricated, gained traction as speculation over Starmer’s future dominated British political discourse.
Starmer Battles Pressure as Ministers Quit
Starmer’s troubles escalated after Labour suffered heavy defeats in local and regional elections, capping months of criticism over the rising cost of living, stalled economic growth and policy reversals. Controversy surrounding the appointment and subsequent removal of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington further weakened his standing within sections of the party.
More than 80 Labour MPs have publicly called for Starmer to either resign immediately or set out a timetable for his departure. Four junior ministers also resigned on Tuesday, intensifying pressure on the prime minister.
However, senior cabinet figures continued to publicly back Starmer, and over 100 Labour lawmakers signed a statement supporting his leadership.
“The Labour Party has a process for challenging a leader and that has not been triggered,” Starmer told ministers earlier in the day.
“The country expects us to get on with governing. That is what I am doing and what we must do as a cabinet,” he added.
London, United Kingdom (UK)
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