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Chief Whip hints at fourth Westminster cat
Larry with Barack Obama and David Cameron
More paws on patrol? A fourth mouser could join the ranks of Larry (pictured), Gladstone and Palmerston.

New mouser may be called Cromwell

There are rumours amidst at Westminster that a fourth Battersea mouser may be joining the ranks.

According to The Telegraph, the Chief Whip Gavin Williamson reportedly told Steve Back, a political photographer, that the new cat may be called Cromwell.

"The Chief Whip was going into Number 10 and Larry was on the doorstep. He said 'Oh, there's Larry!' and came to speak to me," said Mr Back.

"He said we are thinking of getting a cat in the Cabinet Office. I asked what they were thinking of calling it and he said 'Cromwell' in a tongue-in-cheek manner - but it seemed he had the name ready."

A Cabinet Office spokesperson told the Telegraph they are "looking into it" at the moment, but nothing is confirmed at this stage.

Just last week, Her Majesty's Treasury adopted a new cat, Gladstone, to help conquer the growing mouse problem at Westminster.

Joining Downing Street's Larry and Foreign Office cat Palmerston, he was the third feline to be adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Image (C) Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.

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VMD invites students to apply for EMS placement

News Story 1
 The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.

Students in their clinical years of study have until 28 February to apply for the placement, which takes place at the VMD's offices in Addlestone, Surrey, from 6-10 July 2026.

Through a mixture of lectures and workshops, the placement will explore how veterinary medicines are authorised, non-clinical career opportunities, and other important aspects of the VMD's work.  

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk