Macavity Sunak

The Hidden Paw of Downing Street has developed an uncanny habit of fleeing the scene whenever trouble hits

Macavity Sunak flees the scene

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was once famously nicknamed ‘Macavity’, after TS Eliot’s mysterious cat, due to his habit of disappearing whenever trouble hit. 

Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw -

For he's the master criminal who can defy the Law.

He's the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad's despair:

For when they reach the scene of crime – Macavity's not there!

While arguably somewhat unfair on Brown, the Macavity nickname certainly suits our current Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.

Whether it’s dodging the vote on Boris Johnson’s suspension from Parliament, or sidestepping more Prime Minister’s Questions than any PM in modern times, the Hidden Paw of Downing Street has become an increasingly difficult creature to find in Westminster.