Intruder at Westminster: Fox Discovered in MP's Office
An unlikely visitor was discovered Monday morning in the Westminster office of Tory MP George Freeman, after his parliamentary caseworker heard noises coming from the room at around 9am. The intruder, a fox, was found hiding inside a stationery cupboard in Freeman's office at Portcullis House.
The caseworker, named James, told the Evening Standard that he felt as though "something was watching him" before finding the fox "peering out" from the cupboard, describing it as a "poor little creature staring at him."
The fox, whose gender remains unknown, appeared unfazed by the discovery, with reports noting the animal was "not at all alarmed."
Pest Control Unusual Callout
House authorities were alerted, and a pest control team was dispatched to the scene. One member of the team described the callout as "a first," reflecting the unusual nature of the job.
The fox was given a drink of water before being removed from the office and released in the Victoria Tower Gardens area, according to both the Daily Mirror and the Evening Standard.
Freeman, who is also the former Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation, suspected the fox may have "snuck in after one of the cleaners," but acknowledged he had no idea how long the animal had been there. "It was quite a little fox and there are foxes all around London," he told the Standard, adding that "they can get into all sorts of cracks."
He described the intrusion as "not a security problem" and said he was "not at all" scared by the trespasser, attributing his composure to having grown up on a farm.
Foxes Familiar with Parliamentary Grounds
Despite this being the first recorded instance of a fox discovering itself inside an MP's office, the animals are no strangers to the parliamentary estate. Foxes have previously been seen roaming the grounds, lurking in gardens, and creeping under fences.
In October, a fox was spotted near the entrance to Westminster Hall, investigating members of the public who had just entered the estate, before parliamentary staff shooed the creature back into the streets.
Freeman, who - aside from being a former minister - is the MP for Mid Norfolk, emphasized that the situation has left no lasting concern. "It was quite a little fox," he said, as reported by the Daily Mirror, underscoring the relatively calm nature of the unusual event.
But the unusual sight has nonetheless provided a notable contrast to the typical workday of an MP's office, leaving both the caseworker and pest control team with a memorable story.