Larry the cat makes latest No 10 bungle

Larry the cat today caught the attention of politics watchers awaiting an update on the post-Brexit trade deal as he pounced on a pigeon outside Downing Street.

The tabby stalked the bird outside the Prime Minister’s official residence 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. 

The drama came as the Government continued to negotiate on a UK-European Union trade deal amid widespread expectation that an agreement is imminent.

The tabby stalked the bird outside the Prime Minister’s official residence as members of the Press – who were waiting to hear from Boris Johnson – watched on with their cameras poised

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.’

Larry was less popular with rival feline Palmerston, who lived at the Foreign Office across the street until he was retired.

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.

Despite Larry catching his unsuspecting victim, the pigeon managed to fly off seemingly unharmed after a brief scuffle. Pictured: Larry

The drama came as the Government continued to negotiate on a UK-European Union trade deal amid widespread expectation that an agreement is imminent

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. 

Social media users were today glad to see the feline outside No 10, with one writing: ‘Sort of sums up 2020 for number 10, even Larry the cat can’t get the deal he wants.’

Another added: ‘Let’s hope that Downing Street 10’s Larry the Cat killing a pigeon – a symbol of peace – hours before the Brexit Deal is announced is not a sign of what’s to come.’

A third said: ‘While we wait on Christmas Eve for a possible deal, Larry the Cat takes care of the turkey (well the pigeon).’

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. Pictured: Larry outside No 10 today

Social media users were today glad to see the feline outside No 10, with one writing: ‘Sort of sums up 2020 for number 10, even Larry the cat can’t get the deal he wants’

It comes as Mr Johnson looks poised to make history by announcing a Brexit trade deal today – despite last-ditch haggling over the fine detail of fishing rights.

The UK and EU are understood to be on the brink of sealing future trade terms to avert a chaotic split when the transition period ends on January 1, with an outline in place and just the finishing touches needed to the wording. 

Lord Frost, Michel Barnier and a team of experts spent the night ‘scrubbing’ the joint text, reputed to run to 2,000 pages, to ensure there are no loopholes or errors – with the Prime Minister expected to unveil the news in a statement from No10 within hours.  

But the sides were still said to be arguing ‘fish by fish’ over the rules this morning, with Ireland warning of a ‘hitch’, even though UK sources insisted there are ‘no major issues’.