Larry the Cat at 19: the Funniest Downing Street Memes and Viral Photos
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
British politics over the past decade suffered historically unprecedented turnover. Leaders arrived, dissolved parliaments, suffered backbench rebellions, and gave emotional farewell addresses. Larry remained asleep on the hallway banister.
He was there when Cameron resigned over the Brexit referendum in 2016. He watched Theresa May struggle through minority government deadlocks, Boris Johnson host lockdown-breaking gatherings, Liz Truss collapse the pound in 49 days, and Rishi Sunak call a damp general election in 2024. Today, he shares the premises with Labour leader Keir Starmer.
| Political Figure / Peer | Tenure in SW1 | Key Interaction / Iconic Viral Meme |
|---|---|---|
| David Cameron | 2010, 2016 | Forced to show a photo at Prime Minister's Questions proving he loved Larry following reports they detested each other. |
| Palmerston (Foreign Office) | 2016, 2020 | Fierce street fights resulting in vet visits; covered live on TV news channels as a proxy war between departments. |
| Theresa May | 2016, 2019 | Ignoring May’s departure speeches; famously caught escaping past armed security guards during Brexit crisis meetings. |
| Boris Johnson | 2019, 2022 | Refusing to interact with Johnson's Jack Russell cross, Dilyn; claiming supreme status during Johnson’s cabinet mutiny. |
| Liz Truss | Sep 2022, Oct 2022 | The viral parody account claimed Larry’s litter tray had a longer lifespan than her short-lived mini-budget. |
| Rishi Sunak | 2022, 2024 | Standing on the door mat as Sunak announced the summer election in torrential downpours, dry while politicians soaked. |
| Keir Starmer | 2024, Present | Asserting territorial dominance over the Starmer family cat, Jojo, and Siberian kitten, Prince. |
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
