THE new foreign secretary Boris Johnson is not only in charge of relations with other countries around the world but his department’s cat Palmerston.

    While Johnson has for the time being decided not to run for No. 10 Downing Street, his mouser decided to make a dash for power before being shown the door by security.

    Palmerston was adopted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office earlier this year from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home to keep the mice at bay around the Whitehall building.

    And while out wandering Tuesday afternoon, Palmerston took the opportunity to try and sneak past the famous door of No. 10 and into the new home of Prime Minister Theresa May.

    But the black and white cat was spotted by a security guard who quickly grabbed him and unceremoniously dumped him outside on the pavement.

    Palmerston then came face to face with arch enemy Larry, the Downing Street cat, and the pair had a small stand-off before he wandered back home.

    However, the encounter is not the first time Palmerston and Larry have squared up in the corridors of power.

    Last month, the pair was caught brawling and screeching at each other in Downing Street in a vicious fight.

    The brawl saw Larry sustain an injured paw but after licking his wounds he was soon back on the prowl in Downing Street.

    Larry arrived at No. 10 in 2011, also from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, and former Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed the cat’s arrival at the time, and said he would make a “great addition” to the No. 10 team.

    Theresa May has confirmed that Larry will be staying in Downing Street now that she is prime minister.

    Meanwhile, Palmerston was adopted by the Foreign Office in April after they too needed a cat to keep mice and rats at bay.

    He was named after the former Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Lord Palmerston.

    (SD-Agencies)