London: It seems that Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron is determined to put an end to 'rat race' at 10 Downing Street -- he's planning to recruit a cat to get rid of the menace.
"We are making inquiries about getting a cat but we have to be sure that it's the right thing. We have to check that no one in Downing Street is going to die on the spot if they come into contact with cat hair.
"And we need to work out who will pay for the cat. It will not be a taxpayer expense cat," the 'Daily Mail' quoted a government source as saying.
The new employee will patrol No 10 and No 11 Downing Street, as well as the Cabinet Office, but won't be a pet for the Camerons; it is likely to be chosen from a rescue centre by the Prime Minister and his children, the newspaper said.
In fact, the plan to recruit a cat came after a bold rodent was captured on TV stalking the pavement outside the famous black door last week.
Even one female member of Cameron's staff was recently shocked to find a dead rodent being poked at by a crow on the grass verge outside Number 10. And, television correspondents who spend long periods in the street outside have complained about the explosion of vermin, the newspaper said.
A senior Treasury source said: "It's a great idea - as long as people don't think the rats are leaving on a sinking ship."
The last Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, Humphrey, was said to have been expelled by then British PM Tony Blair's wife Cherie. Named after the mandarin in the comedy 'Yes Prime Minister', he was retired six months after the Blairs arrived.
Comments
0 comment