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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Charlotte Hawes

Who is Rishi Sunak's dog Nova as lovable pooch moves into 10 Downing Street

Rishi Sunak became the UK's third Tory Prime Minister this year on October 25, following Liz Truss' resignation after just 44 days in office.

In the initial leadership contest, which concluded on September 5, Mr Sunak and Ms Truss battled it out for the role as PM after Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt was voted out of the race.

In the second leadership contest of the year, which ended on October 24, Mr Sunak became the next PM as he reached over 100 backers by 2pm, with Ms Mordaunt losing the competition for a second time.

However, this is not Mr Sunak's first time living on Downing Street with his lovable pooch as the Sunaks lived at 11 Downing Street during the new PM's time as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The family then moved out of the famous address in July after Mr Sunak resigned from his position as Chancellor.

Here's everything you need to know about Rishi Sunak's dog, Nova.

What breed is Rishi Sunak's dog?

Nova Sunak is a fox red labrador retriever (@rishisunakmp/Instagram)

The Sunak's family dog, Nova, is a fox red labrador retriever.

Nova the puppy arrived at Downing Street last June, when former Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced her arrival via a tweet that was captioned: "Meet Nova."

Why did the Sunak family get the labrador puppy?

The Sunak family - Rishi with his wife Akshata Murthy and daughters Krisna and Anoushka (Getty Images,)

When Mr Sunak's two daughters met Boris Johnson's dog Dillyn, they immediately fell in love and begged their father for a pup of their own.

The former Chancellor then caved into his daughters' pleas and Nova was welcomed into the family.

A Downing Street source told The Sun at the time: "Rishi was fighting it but finally gave in, and the whole building is cooing over her.”

Other sources told the publication that the tiny pooch has a required taste, loves roast chicken and naps in the former Chancellor’s famous red Budget box.

Nova often features on Mr Sunak's Instagram, with one post in October 2021 showing the pooch slumped on a blue sofa with the then-Chancellor as he read documents on the October budget.

The caption read: "Tomorrow’s Budget and Spending Review will deliver a stronger economy for the British people.

"I hope you find it more engaging than Nova did."

Will Nova be reunited with Larry the Cat on Downing Street?

The nation's favourite feline, Larry the Cat (PA)

Following Mr Sunak's Tory leadership win, the Sunaks will move back to Downing Street, swapping Number 11 for Number 10 alongside their pooch Nova.

Also on the UK's most famous street is Larry the Cat, whose fame has reached new heights in the last few months due to two Tory leadership campaigns, three prime ministers and multiple Cabinet shake-ups.

Larry the Cat, whose official title is Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, has resided at No 10 for 11 years.

Throughout Larry's mouse-chasing career, David Cameron, Theresa May, Mr Johnson, Ms Truss, and now Mr Sunak have all served as PM.

The brown and white feline was chosen by the staff of Downing Street and adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2011.

Soon after his arrival at Number 10, Larry became the first cat to be given the title of Chief Mouser, and he is regularly seen chasing after mice or foxes outside the Prime Minister's home.

He also has his own unofficial Twitter account, which posts tongue-in-cheek tweets surrounding the current state of UK politics.

When Mr Sunak won the latest Tory leadership contest, the account tweeted: "Rishi Sunak is becoming prime minister. His family is loaded so caviar and lobster on the menu for me from tomorrow."

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