Humphrey - a cat's life - r.i.p.

[king ubu]

Humphrey, cat; born 1988, died 2006

Michael White

Tuesday March 21, 2006

The Guardian

Humphrey the cat, who has died at the advanced age of 18, was one of the most prominent felines in British political life since an ancestor emerged as a significant backstairs adviser to Sir Richard Whittington in his bid to become mayor of London in the 14th century.

In a career that straddled late Thatcherism, the turbulent years when John Major struggled to sustain the Tory hegemony and an unhappy twilight under Tony Blair, Humphrey occupied a unique position in Downing Street that allowed him both to observe and influence great events. In his capacity as official designated mouser in what remained, despite enormous sums spent on renovations, a fine example of a jerry-built 17th-century speculative building, Humphrey was an invaluable member of the team.

He even appealed to Margaret Thatcher because, at £100 at year (mostly for cat food and paid from the Cabinet Office budget), he was cheaper than the previous pest control contractor. This was practical Thatcherism in action; Humphrey at the cutting edge.

Yet his early years were spent in relative obscurity. Little is known of his parents and he was a stray when he first arrived at No 10 in 1989. Found in the street by a civil servant, he was named after Sir Humphrey Appleby, of the TV series Yes Minister, and landed in the middle of a monetary battle between Thatcher and Nigel Lawson. His lack of social connections among the cats of nearby Belgravia only served to increase his appeal to the grocer's daughter. "I can do business with Humphrey," she was once heard to observe.

There is no firm evidence that Humphrey took an active role in the battle with Lawson, and claims that he once scratched Michael Heseltine are discounted by feline scholars. Major's famous interpersonal skills ensured he was persona grata with Humphrey long before he succeeded Thatcher in 1990.

It was during the decline of the Major premiership that Humphrey came into his own as a distraction from the government's troubles. Whenever the pound fell through the floor or another cabinet minister was found murdered, it was convenient to announce that Humphrey had been put on a special diet or (in 1994) that he had been accused of killing four robins.

"I am afraid Humphrey has been falsely accused," Major himself told reporters on that occasion. Given the falling level of trust in the premier, this was widely assumed to mean that Humpo had indeed whacked the birdies, though whether for a fee or merely for fun was never established.

His latter years were marred by controversy. In the early Blair era it was reported by tabloids not yet ready to attack the new PM directly that Cherie Blair had decreed that she was allergic to Humphrey and that he must go. A photo of Cherie with Humphrey was later issued, but did little to assuage fears that he was a marked cat.

When Humphrey retired to south London, Tory MPs claimed he had been murdered and insisted on seeing the corpse. Independent observers dispatched to the scene confirmed he was still alive. Thereafter, the Press Complaints Commission won agreement that his privacy be respected. He died "last week some time", No 10's spokesman has now confirmed. Demands for an inquest will be refused.

[sidewinder]

Named after 'Sir Humphrey', the evasive and machievellian Permanent Secretary in the UK TV comedy 'Yes Minister' and a big favourite of Mrs T. I always associate this cat with the Thatcher years (often seen coming and going through the front door of No. 10) but apparently the Blairs were never fans of this moggie.

[king ubu]

she was, very much so I'd say, judging from her (super-? extra-?)natural grin: