Boris Johnson's new head of communications is a former journalist who used to dress up as a chicken to confront MPs.
Lee Cain, who served as Mr Johnson's press aide in the Foreign Office and during his Conservative party leadership campaign, has been appointed as director of communications for the new Prime Minister.
The Daily Mirror said Mr Cain had worked for the newspaper in 2010 and dressed up as the Mirror Chicken, a character who turned up at Tory MPs' public appearances and "taunted" them.
It said Mr Cain, who served on the Vote Leave campaign, was pictured in 2010 being led away by police after approaching David Cameron and his wife Samantha while they were on the campaign trail.
A former colleague told the paper: “Lee was a great Mirror Chicken. He attacked the role with real zeal and great passion. The news desk were so impressed with his work he was used on a number of occasions.
“I vividly remember him coming to the newsroom and prancing around still in his full outfit like a rooster."
Mr Cain will be responsible for determining the Conservative government’s message in public. He has had other jobs with the government, including at No 10.
The Mirror chicken was created in 1997 when John Major was Prime Minister.
