Foreign Office mouser shows killer instinct as Larry caught napping
THE current occupant of Number 10 has been cast as ineffective by a rival at the Foreign Office, who is trying to prove he has a killer instinct and what it takes to be number one.
However, this is not a tale of a power struggle between Theresa May and Boris Johnson, but a feline proxy war that has allowed the Foreign Secretary to get one over on the Prime Minister.
It has been revealed Palmerston, the FCO’S resident mouser, has caught at least 27 mice since his arrival in Westminster in April 2016.
Palmerston’s record is likely to put further pressure on the performance of Larry, the Number 10 cat, who was pictured earlier this year playing with a mouse before allowing it to escape, in a clear dereliction of his duties.
Documents released under Freedom of Information laws show Palmerston has caught dozens of mice since he came from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
The FCO said: “The PUS’S [Permanent Under-secretary, Sir Simon Mcdonald] office do receive reported sightings of Palmerston catching mice – so far this figure is at 27.
“This figure is likely to be much higher, as these are only reported sightings.”