英首相官邸の猫「ラリー」 次の同居人は初の労働党首相か

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】政治的混乱が続く英国で、この１４年間、不動の存在がいる。ロンドン・ダウニング街１０番地の首相官邸のあるじ、老猫の「ラリー」だ。７月４日の総選挙の結果次第で、ラリーは自身にとって６人目の首相を迎えることになる。（写真は英ロンドンのダウニング街１０番地、首相官邸前に座る猫のラリー）
　これまでラリーに「仕えてきた」首相５人は保守党だったが、世論調査が正しければ、初めて労働党の首相を迎えることになるはずだ。
　現職のリシ・スナク首相が去れば、ラブラドルレトリバーの「ノバ」も一緒に去ることになる。ラリーにとってはどうでもいいことだが。
　スナク氏の妻アクシャタ・ムルティ氏によれば、ラリーとノバが「激しくやり合っている」こともあるが、いつも勝つのはラリーだ。
　ちなみに労働党のキア・スターマー党首は最近、ＢＢＣのインタビューで、家族で「ジョジョ」という名の猫を１匹飼っていると明らかにした。自分より子どもたちの方がジョジョを甘やかしてかわいがっているという。
　英紙メトロに対しては、ハムスターの「ベア」も飼っていると語っている。ただし、スターマー氏が首相に就任しても、ジョジョとベアのいずれかが官邸入りするかどうかは分かっていない。
　スナク氏が５月２２日に総選挙の実施を発表した後、ラリーは自身の公式ＳＮＳアカウント「＠Ｎｕｍｂｅｒ１０ｃａｔ」で「マニフェスト」を公表。
　「私は総選挙で投票することはできないが、皆さんが誰を選出しようと、その相手と同居しなければならないのは私だ。別にプレッシャーをかけているわけではないが」「選挙の結果がどうであれ、私はここでいろいろなことに目を光らせるつもりだ」と投稿した。
　官邸での「ラリー政権」１０周年を機にＡＦＰがＳＮＳアカウントを通じて行ったインタビューでは、ラリーは長寿の秘訣（ひけつ）を明かし、次のように回答した。
　「重要なのは、ここに永住しているのは私であり、首相たちは解任されるまでのわずかな間、私と同居しているにすぎない点だ」「彼らは皆、遅かれ早かれ、この場所を仕切っているのは私であることに気付く」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/07/01-17:58）

There has been one figure of stability in the last 14 years of political turmoil in the UK -- Larry the Downing Street cat.
Now, with a general election fast approaching on July 4, the ageing tabby could be in line for his sixth prime minister.
He has already had five Conservative prime ministers serve under him but if polls are correct, he will soon get his first from the Labour party.
Incumbent Rishi Sunak's departure would see him take his fox-red labrador retriever Nova too. Not that Larry would mind.
According to Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty, the pair have had some heated exchanges. But Larry has always prevailed.
Labour leader Keir Starmer recently told the BBC that his family has a cat, Jojo, that his children spoil more than him.
They also have a hamster, Bear, he told the Metro newspaper. But it remains to be seen if either would move with him if he wins.
Larry has been fiercely protective of his territory, frequently fighting to be top cat with his counterpart at the foreign ministry, Palmerston.
His rival eventually retired to the countryside.
Urban foxes and unsuspecting pigeons have also been chased away, although one feathered interloper narrowly avoided his clutches, as the media looked on.
- Longevity -
Larry made his first appearance in Downing Street on February 15, 2011 after being adopted from the Battersea shelter in south London.
He was recruited under then prime minister David Cameron to get rid of mice and even given an official title: Chief Mouser.
But his performance in that department left much to be desired, despite a few early successes.
Cameron himself tried to quash rumours that he and Larry did not get along, while reporters on the politics beat have said he is friendly with journalists.
He's interested, the appropriately named BBC political correspondent Helen Catt said in a recent item on Larry.
He tends to come up and have a look when you're there with the camera crew, he likes to see what the press are up to.
But that has its downsides, she added.
When you're in Downing Street and you're doing lives, you're always very aware that if he pops out behind you, a lot of people really aren't going to be listening to what you're saying anymore, she said.
For the general election, Larry has set out his campaign manifesto on his official @Number10cat social media account.
I don't get to vote in the general election but I do have to live with whoever you elect. No pressure, one post read after Sunak announced the election on May 22.
Whatever the result of the election, I'll be here to keep an eye on things, read another.
Interviewed by AFP on the 10th anniversary of his arrival in power, Larry, via the human running his social media account, revealed the secret to his longevity.
The key thing to remember is that I live here permanently, the politicians just lodge with me for a bit until they're fired, he said.
They all work out sooner or later that it's me that runs the place.