Larry, who bears the official title of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office at 10 Downing Street, will soon meet his newest companion, Labour’s Keir Starmer. Despite the recent changes of leadership at Downing Street, one thing remains constant: Larry, the Downing Street cat, has now set the record as the first Chief Mouser to serve under six prime ministers.
Larry, a pet cat residing in this world-famous office, has been bestowed with the charming official title of Chief Mouser by the British Government. However, this centre-left Prime Minister will not be a dull friend to Larry. Starmer’s colleagues in the Shadow Cabinet have been quoted as saying he is boring to be around. In response, The Guardian recently reported that Starmer had warned his colleagues not to make such remarks. Instead, he says: “What’s boring is being in Opposition.”Sir Keir Starmer will be the white and tabby cat’s sixth housemate. Larry prepares to welcome Britain’s new Prime Minister as he arrives at Downing Street. It is uncertain whether it will be a warm welcome or one of thrill and curiosity, as Starmer and his wife Victoria are coming to Downing Street with their rescue cat, Jojo.Starmer, rejuvenated and enthusiastic after the sensational victory achieved after 25 years in the history of British elections, will be special not only to the people of Britain but also to Larry. All five of the leaders Larry has met so far have been Conservatives, and Starmer, 61, is the first Labour Prime Minister in 14 years. Being in his company will undoubtedly inspire Larry.Why did Starmer and his beloved wife Victoria have to change their residence? After James Gordon Brown, who served as Prime Minister of Britain from 2007 to 2010, the British have continually chosen a Conservative Prime Minister. Since the landmark decision of Brexit, which was advanced by politicians like Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage in 2016, the British have struggled to regain the prosperity and status they once enjoyed.Amidst the dark clouds of a failing economy, the British had every reason to welcome Starmer as a herald of prosperity. Therefore, his victory as the Labour candidate was resoundingly confirmed by British voters, prompting the move for him and Victoria to 10 Downing Street.Labour PartyThe Labour Party managed to secure 412 seats in the British General Election, held under the single constituency system that Sri Lanka had embraced until the introduction of the Second Republican Constitution. This result easily surpassed the 326-seat threshold needed to take control of the 650-seat House of Commons. A notable factor in this landslide victory was that Labour won 209 more seats than in the 2019 election.Despite being the world’s sixth-largest economy, the Conservatives won only 121 seats, as political commentators had previously assumed, amidst rising poverty and the ever-increasing cost of living. The British public reclaimed 244 seats from the Conservatives since the 2019 election, reducing their count from 365 seats. Additionally, the Liberal Democrats won 72 seats, the Scottish National Party won nine seats and another 11 parties won between 1 and 7 seats each.These election results are undoubtedly an investment by the British people in the future, with many unique features. In the simplest analysis, Starmer won and Sunak lost.It is remarkable that the British voters decided to leave former Prime Minister Liz Truss, talented Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, leading organiser of the ruling party in the House of Commons Simon Hart, much-loved and brave soldier Johnny Mercer, and Penny Mordaunt, who has been touted as a potential leader of the new era of Conservatives after Rishi Sunak, as well as former Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and former Transport Secretary Mark Harper, out of office.In the Sri Lankan sense, all of these are significant ministers who once shouldered the responsibility of ruling the country from the House of Commons. For example, Penny Mordaunt could be the future leader of the Conservative Party. Amidst all the confusion, the arrival of Nigel Farage, who won more than 8,000 votes, to the House of Commons marks the rise of a third force. After failing seven times and succeeding on the eighth attempt, he is now the leader of a new force called Reform UK.Britain is a land of dreams that once ruled Sri Lanka, and today, many Sri Lankans aspire to live there. Despite this allure, even some local governments in that dreamland have recently displayed notices of bankruptcy. Rishi Sunak’s five-fold priorities have not been able to restore the country as expected. During his premiership, Sunak attempted to improve the economy and stabilise national politics. He outlined five key priorities: halving inflation, growing the economy, cutting debt, reducing NHS waiting lists and stopping illegal small-boat crossings of the English Channel by enacting the Rwanda asylum plan.However, the sight of Rishi Sunak smoothly and simply handing over power to Starmer was a beautiful one. Sunak looked forward like a captain navigating a stormy ocean, embodying a bright and noble character that people around the world will remember for some time to come.Staff at British HC The writer also received an invitation to visit the British High Commission in Colombo from 8:00 to 10:30 (Sri Lanka time) on the day the British election results were released at Westminster. This invitation was due to our engagement in election observation and research. We witnessed how the British staff working at the High Commission were ready to accept any election result with a smile and without fear.The officials of our missions abroad will not be the same. The defeat of the government in power means that they will also have to leave their positions. There is no impediment for them to serve the country for the three years or any other relevant period officially allotted to them. However, more than half of our diplomatic community are front-runners, eager to please the politicians of the ruling party without any conditions (a very small minority swim upstream).Our politicians, especially those looking to enter Parliament from the National List or hoping for a governorship or ambassadorship even when they directly lose elections, should take a moment to listen to Sunak’s farewell speech. There are valuable lessons in his graceful transition of power and his noble approach to leadership.He says:‘’………………To the country, I would like to say, first and foremost, I am sorry.I have given this job my all.But you have sent a clear signal that the Government of the United Kingdom must change……and yours is the only judgement that matters.I have heard your anger, your disappointment; and I take responsibility for this loss………..Even as Sunak the politician steps down, Great Britain will soon be healed by the spirit of Sunak the man. In contrast, we are mere voters in the chaotic death well in a circus called Sri Lanka, where senior figures cling stubbornly to power.