Larry the cat has not yet commented on the most recent addition to the parliamentary grounds.
After prowling the corridors of power, Larry, the Downing Street cat, has earned a reputation.
But after the Speaker of the House of Commons announced he has a new kitten, he may be felinely threatened.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle has named his cat Attlee after the former prime minister of the Labour Party, Clement Attlee.
The speaker is well-known for his affection for animals, with numerous pets bearing the names of prominent politicians from across the political spectrum.
Attlee is a four-month-old brown tabby Maine Coon, and he succeeds Patrick, a ginger Maine Coon who passed away in March. He was given the name of a Tory peer.
During his time in office, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home held a competition in which Patrick won the position of Purr Minister.
Larry the cat has not yet commented on the most recent addition to the parliamentary grounds.
Sir Lindsay said: “Attlee is the boldest, craziest life force you could ever imagine; he races around my office, much to the amusement of my team, and brings a smile to the face of doorkeepers, police officers, and cleaners – as well as everyone he interacts with.
I still miss Patrick, my favorite pet, but Attlee, named after the former prime minister who established the National Health Service, has cheered us up tremendously.
Sir Lindsay also has a parrot named Boris who “talks a lot”, a Patterdale Terrier named Betty, and a tortoise named Maggie who “has a hard shell and is not for turning.”
Before this, he owned a dog named Gordon, after Gordon Brown, who placed third in the Westminster Dog of the Year competition.
Sir Lindsay revealed in July 2020 that Boris the parrot had begun yelling “lock the doors” on London-to-Lancashire train rides.
The animals travel each week with Sir Lindsay and his wife to their residence in the North West.
“When I put (the parrot) down, he’ll start yelling “lock the doors, lock the doors,” and people on the train will look around and wonder, “Who’s yelling lock the doors?”
“They can see that I am not talking, but… This parrot in my cage says “order, order” or “lock the doors.”
Sir Lindsay stated that he believes Boris learned the phrases because his wife “deliberately” places the parrot in front of the television.
