Downing Street battle for power set to intensify as Treasury hires Gladstone the cat
Moggy is in charge of tackling the mouse problem in Philip Hammond's department
WHITEHALL’S turf war looks set to intensify as Treasury officials unveiled their latest hiring – a jet black moggy with “catitude”.
Like Larry the Downing Street cat and Palmerston of the Foreign Office, the black cat is a former stray adopted from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home.
Amid mounting speculation that Larry and Palmerston are engaged in a battle for Downing Street, Gladstone's official Instagram page describes him as an animal with "catitude".
And the 18-month old domestic short hair wasted no time in getting involved in the apparent spat.
A caption to a photo of Gladstone in a cat carrier reads: "Me on my first day at my new home. The humans had to keep me in this cage in case I ran down the street and tormented some other mouser called 'Larry'. Personally, I've never heard of him. #movingday."
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Named after former prime minister and chancellor William Ewart Gladstone, his profile also describes him as "the most popular colleague at Her Majesty's Treasury", where he catches mice and "receives cuddles".
Civil servant Pokemon Go fans have even roped him into the game and have snapped the friendly puss roaming the corridors of the Treasury estate chasing bold mice and wild Pikachus in the Horse Guard Road offices.
Eighteen-month-old Gladstone, sports a natty red-spotted handkerchief round his neck and is described as “a very affectionate cat who loves cuddles and food”.
He has been brought in to tackle the mice problem at the Treasury.
It is not yet clear whether he will side with Larry or Palmerston in their fight for supremacy in Downing Street.
After a recent "fracas" with Palmerston, Larry had to be treated by a vet after developing a limp in his front right paw.
It was unclear whether Palmerston was responsible but the Foreign Office's "diplomog" has been pictured in recent days being evicted from No 10 and squaring up to Larry.