The Treasury has given the public a cat’s eye view of its offices ahead of the Open House London event this weekend.
Gladstone, the HM Treasury cat, has provided a unique view of the Horse Guards Road building in Westminster after he was fitted with a camera and prowled the corridors of power.
.@hmtreasury opens up for #OpenHouseLondon this Sunday. If you can’t come in person - take a peek here! https://t.co/9lxfq7EISI
— Philip Hammond (@PHammondMP) September 13, 2016
The Treasury’s chief mouser since July can be seen in his trademark polka-dot bow tie sauntering through wood-panelled meeting rooms, and along corridors where doors are held open for him.
Gladstone has previously been described as a “cold-blooded killer” by an unknown Treasury source after killing six mice since taking up office earlier in the summer. The news sparked rumours, reported in the Sun, of a rivalry with Larry, the No 10 cat, who remained in place after David Cameron resigned as prime minister.
Larry – who arrived from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2011 – was said to have a “strong predatory drive”, but Treasury sources suggested Gladstone was the more ruthless hunter.
Maybe I could teach you a thing or two, Larry. @Number10cat https://t.co/9zouNv4mjL
— Gladstone (@HMTreasuryCat) September 9, 2016
The idea to fit a camera on Gladstone may have come from an unlikely source. Embassy Cat – who is reportedly living in Ecuador’s London embassy with Julian Assange – has already sported a “pro infra red head mount cat cam”. Why? He is interested in “counter-purrveillance”, of course.
Meow on the prowl with my pro infra red head mount cat cam looking fur bugs and intruders!! 😻 #counterpurrveillance https://t.co/bwqNof2UZn
— Embassy Cat (@EmbassyCat) August 26, 2016
