British PM condemned over ‘Russian cat’ 

A former Conversative candidate has suggested that Keir Starmer is a Moscow sympathizer because he adopted a Siberian-breed kitten  

Former UK intelligence official and opposition candidate Stephen James has accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of supporting Moscow because he adopted a “Russian” cat instead of a “British” one.  

Earlier this month, Starmer introduced a new pet to Downing Street – a Siberian kitten named Prince. This breed is known for its long fluffy coat, and for being “energetic and adventurous.”   

The prime minister’s choice, however, has drawn criticism from James, a combat veteran who formerly served in the British Army’s Intelligence Corps, and who was a Conservative parliamentary candidate in this year’s general election.   

“Keir Starmer choosing a Russian Siberian kitten over a British Shorthair is the clearest sign yet he’s not backing Britain!” James wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday.

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“If the PM can’t support British Shorthairs, how can we expect him to support British workers?” he argued, adding the hashtag ‘Back Britain Not Russia.’  

James’ anger was prompted by a photograph of the prime minister next to Prince, showing the small kitten on a desk with his paws on Starmer’s paperwork.  

Starmer has said his children had originally wanted to get a German Shepherd dog, but opted for a Siberian kitten after lengthy discussions.  

“And this is an agreement after long negotiations – I said we’d get in the room and sort it out,” the prime minister told the BBC in July.  

Prince has joined Jojo, a rescue cat that the Starmer family have had since before the election, as well as Larry, who has been ‘chief mouser’ to the Cabinet Office since 2011.