Andy Burnham has confirmed that his dog Axel will not be moving into Downing Street because of a potential clash with Larry, the No 10 cat. The Prime Minister's pooch, a bichon frise-poodle cross known as "Famous Axel," will remain in the north of England, Mr Burnham told the BBC in his first major broadcast interview.
Axel's temperament and Larry's territory
When asked about moving his family pet alongside Larry, the renowned "chief mouser" to the Cabinet Office, Mr Burnham 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."
Describing the breed, he said: "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."
Mother's words at Downing Street
In another part of the interview, Mr Burnham was asked about what his mother said 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."
He added: "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."
Describing the moment, he said: "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."
