A Labour peer's call to bring in cats to control mice and other vermin in the Houses of Parliament has been rejected. Larry the cat already serves as 10 Downing Street's chief mouser but there are no plans to introduce pets to tackle the pest problem in the Palace of Westminster down the road. Senior Deputy Speaker Lord Gardiner of Kimble told Lord Berkeley advice given to parliamentary authorities was that cats would face risks from construction activity, self-closing doors and the lack of arrangements for caring for them. Mice have long been an issue in the Grade I listed landmark,with thousands of pounds spent on pest control every year. In a written question, Lord Berkeley asked what consideration has been given to using cats for vermin control across the Parliamentary Estate. In response, Lord Gardiner said: "On advice given previously to the House of Commons, the decision was made not to bring a cat on the estate on the following grounds. "The estate had too much construction activity on site to provide a safe living environment for a free-roaming cat. "The risk of self-closing doors leaving a cat trapped without sustenance for significant periods of time. "The absence of assured daily arrangements for cat care." He added: "We continue to work with our pest control contractor to implement targeted and effective regimes across the Palace." Larry, a rescue cat from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, has served successive prime ministers since he moved into 10 Downing Street back in 2011. After Sir Keir Starmer took office Larry was joined by the family cat Jojo and a new Siberian kitten. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office enlisted a chief mouser called Palmerston in 2016. He retired to the countryside in 2020 but was recently brought back to take up an overseas diplomatic posting in Bermuda as "feline relations consultant". Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletterto read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Cats rejected as Westminster pest controllers
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"Proposal to Use Cats for Vermin Control in Parliament Rejected"
Bbc News
8.7
TruthLens AI Summary
A proposal by Labour peer Lord Berkeley to employ cats for vermin control in the Houses of Parliament has been dismissed by senior officials. The suggestion was made in light of ongoing issues with mice in the Palace of Westminster, where substantial funds are allocated annually for pest control. Currently, Larry the cat serves as the chief mouser at 10 Downing Street, demonstrating that cats can play a role in managing rodent populations. However, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, the Senior Deputy Speaker, explained that there are significant obstacles to introducing cats into the parliamentary estate. He cited ongoing construction activities, the potential danger of self-closing doors trapping cats, and the lack of a reliable care system for the animals as reasons for the decision against using cats for pest control in the area.
The concerns regarding the safety and wellbeing of cats in the Palace of Westminster highlight the complexities involved in addressing the persistent mouse problem. Despite the rejection of the cat proposal, the parliamentary authorities emphasized their commitment to effective pest management through their current contractor. The situation is reminiscent of other notable feline figures in British politics, such as Larry, who has been in residence at 10 Downing Street since 2011, and Palmerston, the former chief mouser for the Foreign Office. Palmerston has since retired but was recently appointed as a 'feline relations consultant' in Bermuda, underscoring the unique roles that cats have taken on in the realm of British political life. While the idea of using cats as pest controllers was intriguing, the practical challenges ultimately led to its dismissal, leaving the Parliament to continue relying on traditional pest control methods to manage its ongoing vermin issues.
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