Andy Burnham’s ‘offended’ canine Axel banned from No 10 to guard Larry the cat

Andy Burnham has said his pet dog Axel will not be moved into Downing Street because he “wouldn’t get on with Larry” the No 10 cat

Andy Burnham has revealed that his pet dog Axel won’t be relocating to Downing Street due to a potential clash with Larry, the No 10 cat. The Prime Minister’s pooch, a bichon frise-poodle cross, will stay put in the north of England, Mr Burnham informed the BBC during his first major broadcast interview.

When asked if he would move his family pet into No 10 alongside Larry, the renowned “chief mouser” to the Cabinet Office, Mr Burnham referred to his own pet as “Famous Axel”.

Mr Burnham further explained: “I think he’s going to have to stay up north I think, because he’s kind of got that angry little man thing going on. He’s got a bit of poodle in him.

“He’s a bich-poo, I think they call it – or a poochon – whatever the phrase is. And, yeah, he wouldn’t get on with Larry, let me put it that way, and I don’t think the nation would thank me, would they, if I brought Axel down to disturb Larry’s world? So I think he’s staying up here.”

In another part of the interview, Mr Burnham was asked about what his mother had said to him when she greeted him at Downing Street after he became Prime Minister.

He told the BBC: “Oh, goodness, I could tell you so much there, but I won’t tell you all of it. But I’m very close to my mum, you know, I think you know that, and my dad too.

“My dad sadly has Alzheimer’s so couldn’t be there, so we just exchanged a few words about my dad and how proud he would be.

“Yeah, that’s a little hard, but then again I’ve said it’s their achievement, it is both of their achievement, it’s my brother’s achievement, it’s community, people who know me have all contributed.

“So, you know, the emotion of that moment was, well, bittersweet if you know what I mean, it was painful in one way, but beautiful in another. “.