THE BRITISH PRIME Minister David Cameron has added a new recruit to his government with a new cat appointed to deal with Downing Street’s rat problem.

A tabby cat called Larry has been recruited from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home by Number 10 who admired his “strong predatory drive”, reports the Press Association.

It follows a number of television cameras capturing rats scuttling across the front entrance of Number 10.

They are believed to be living under a bush at Number 11 where Chancellor George Osborne lives.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister told PA:

Before coming to Battersea, he was a stray, so he is used to fending for himself on the streets. Nothing is ever guaranteed but his behaviour in Battersea convinced staff that he was up for the job.

Larry is the first official feline appointment to Downing Street in over a decade.

The last cat, Humphrey, was retired by then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1997 amidst accusations that Blair’s wife, Cherie, disliked the chubby black and white moggy, reports The Guardian.

Cameron will be hoping that whatever else comes his way in the coming months as budget cuts begin to effect many in the UK, there will be no repeat of incidents such as this: