A fox was discovered hiding in the stationery cupboard of Tory MP George Freeman's office at Portcullis House on Monday morning. The Mid Norfolk MP revealed on social media that the animal had snuck into his office, with his parliamentary caseworker James hearing noises at around 9am.
Discovery in the stationery cupboard
James found the "poor little creature staring at him", Mr Freeman told the Standard. James later said he had felt as though "something was watching him". The trespassing fox, whose gender is unknown, was said to be "peering out" and "not at all alarmed" by being discovered.
Removal and release
The House Authorities were alerted and a pest control team was dispatched. One member of the team said the callout for the fox "was a first." The fox was given a drink of water before being removed from the office and let out in the Victoria Tower Gardens area.
Mr Freeman said he suspected the small fox had "snuck in after one of the cleaners" though he had no idea how long the animal had been there. "It was quite a little fox and there are foxes all around London. They can get into all sorts of cracks," he explained, adding that the intrusion was "not a security problem."
Previous fox sightings
The former Minister of State, Science, Technology and Innovation added that he'd grown up on a farm and so was "not at all" scared by the furry visitor. Foxes have been spotted before running around the grounds of the Houses of Parliament. The marauding mammals often lurk around in gardens and creep under fences.
In October, a fox was spotted near the door of the ancient Westminster Hall, investigating members of the public who had just entered the estate. Parliamentary staff were forced to shoo the creature back into the streets.
