A former Conservative 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. The 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.

“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.’  

Keir Starmer choosing a Russian Siberian kitten over a 🇬🇧 British Shorthair is the clearest sign yet he’s not backing Britain!

If the PM can’t support British Shorthairs, how can we expect him to support British workers? #BackBritainNotRussia pic.twitter.com/28TgWe86vl

— Stephen James (@StephenJamesGBR) September 21, 2024

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.