Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, has announced that his pet dog, Axel, will not be commuting between London and Manchester now that he holds the position. Axel, a bichon poo mix, has been a part of Burnham’s family since 2017. Concerned about potential conflicts with Larry the cat at Downing Street, Burnham has decided to keep Axel in the north, where he was adopted through the Dog Trust. Despite this decision, Burnham plans to spend quality time with Axel at No. 10 North at least once a week.
In an interview with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Burnham jokingly referred to Axel as “Famous Axel” when asked about his plans for the dog. Burnham explained that Axel’s feisty personality, possibly due to his poodle heritage, would not mesh well with Larry. Therefore, Burnham believes it’s best for Axel to remain up north to avoid disrupting Larry’s routine.
Past Prime Ministers have brought their pets to Downing Street, such as Boris Johnson’s Jack Russell cross, Dilyn, known for his enthusiastic behavior, and Rishi Sunak’s well-behaved Labrador Retriever, Nova. The presence of pets in the Prime Minister’s residence has been a notable tradition over the years.
