Today, July 13, is David Cameron’s last day on the job, when he must vacate his official residence at London’s 10 Downing Street, and personally tender his resignation to the Queen, clearing the way for successor Theresa May.
Earlier in the day, the departing UK prime minister participated in a final session of the Prime Minister’s Questions, a tradition in which members of parliament publicly pose queries and challenges. Amid all the jokes and barbs, Cameron felt it important to seriously address one hurtful recent rumor: his lack of love for Downing Street’s chief mouser, Larry the cat.
He held up a photo of himself with Larry as proof of the health of their relationship, and later posted it to Twitter, just in case anyone missed it.
Here it is:
The clarification is a jokey response to a commentary published on July 12 by The Telegraph, which stated, “Larry was a lie, an exercise in spin and branding,” because “the idea of Mr Cameron having a cat would make him more likeable and warm, more like ordinary people.” Ultimately, concludes author James Kirkup, Cameron is ”a dog person who pretended to like cats.”
Larry was recruited by house staff in 2011 from an animal rescue center, after rats were spotted on live TV broadcast, and appears to have his own (unverified) Twitter account.
Cameron announced his resignation on June 24, after the country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum he had called. Larry will remain at 10 Downing Street.
More photos of Theresa May’s new chief rat hunter here.