Gladstone Joins Whitehall Feline Frontline

Whitehall's team of mousers has been bolstered with the arrival of Gladstone at the Treasury.

The former stray, aged between one and two-years-old, joins Larry the Downing Street cat and Palmerston of the Foreign Office on the feline frontline in the corridors of power.

However, holding the shared rodent portfolio can lead to interdepartmental rivalry and cause fur to fly.

Claws are already out in a turf war between Larry and Palmerston, but Gladstone promises to be able to handle himself being described on his official Instagram page as an animal with "catitude".

As is popular in the political jungle he is already talking down the opposition.

A caption to a photo of Gladstone in a cat carrier states: "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."

Recognising the need to win the PR war, he already has his own press team in place.

Named after former prime minister and chancellor William Ewart Gladstone, he is described on his profile as "the most popular colleague at Her Majesty's Treasury", where he catches mice and "receives cuddles".

Like his two Whitehall colleagues, he was also adopted from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, where he was known as Timmy.

A fan of his food, he needs to be fed in moderation as insiders reveal "he can be quite greedy". He is also partial to spot of catnip.

Chancellor Philip Hammond, who worked alongside Palmerston as foreign secretary before taking up his new post, tweeted: "Looks like I'm not the only new arrival @hmtreasury - welcome Gladstone!"