A fox was discovered inside a parliamentary office in Westminster, prompting staff to call animal experts for its removal. The unexpected visitor was found by a parliamentary caseworker on a Monday morning before 9 a.m., according to former minister George Freeman.
Freeman, a Conservative MP, posted images on social media showing the fox under a desk and on a shelf in his office. He stated that his staff provided the animal with water and ensured it was calm before animal experts escorted it from the premises. The fox was subsequently released in the Victoria Tower Gardens area.
A spokesperson for the House of Commons confirmed a report of a fox sighting in Portcullis House and stated that the animal was safely removed from the estate by relevant teams. The spokesperson emphasized efforts to maintain a safe environment for visitors, staff, and parliamentarians, with prompt action taken to address issues and minimize disruption.
While rodents like mice are a common sight within the parliamentary buildings, with authorities spending over £100,000 annually on pest control, a fox entering the offices is considered an unusual occurrence. Insiders have described the incident as isolated.
Despite requests from some Members of Parliament, pets such as cats and dogs are not permitted to roam freely within the buildings due to concerns about them becoming trapped.
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, who resides on the parliamentary estate, is known to be an animal lover and has kept various pets. Freeman recounted that his caseworker heard a noise and discovered the fox in a stationery cupboard, leading to the subsequent call to House authorities.