As the nation awaited an update on the post-Brexit trade deal, it was Downing Street’s Larry the cat who grabbed the attention of politics watchers as he pounced on a pigeon.
The tabby stalked the bird outside the Prime Minister’s official residence on Thursday as members of the Press – who were waiting to hear from Boris Johnson – watched on with their cameras poised.
Despite Larry catching his unsuspecting victim, the pigeon managed to fly off seemingly unharmed after a brief scuffle.
Officially known as the chief mouser, Larry was rehomed from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2011, and was said to have a “strong predatory drive”.
Former Conservative prime minister David Cameron expressed his fondness for the animal, saying he would make a “great addition” to the Number 10 team at the time.
Speaking at his final Prime Minister’s Questions as Tory leader in 2016, Mr Cameron told the Commons: “Sadly I can’t take Larry with me, he belongs to the house and the staff love him very much – as do I.”
Before being cared for at Battersea, Larry was a stray and was used to “fending for himself on the streets”, a Downing Street spokesman previously said.
Larry was the first cat to hold the rat-catching portfolio since stalwart ratter Humphrey was retired in 1997.
Humphrey was succeeded for a short period by Sybil, the pet of then chancellor Alistair Darling, in 2007 – but the mouser failed to settle and returned to Scotland.