MIKE Foster managed a first this week. He left a radio interviewer lost for words.

The feat was achieved while the mid-Worcestershire MP was being asked about an Early Day Motion - mentioned on this column last week - calling for a House of Commons cat.

The EDM was tabled by a group of Liberal Democrats, including Hereford MP Paul Keetch, as a solution to Parliament's mice problem.

(It was later amended by Peter Luff to point out this would involve "hunting with cats".)

Mike was asked by the hapless interviewer if he had seen the EDM. He replied: "I did see the Liberal Democrats had done this. I have seen some of the critters around Westminster."

The stunned journalist - puzzled as to how Mike could be so rude about his Parliamentary colleagues - didn't know what to say and a period of "dead air" followed.

Until Mike added: "Mice. I have seen quite a number of them in the corridors. One ran over my foot."

Meanwhile, Peter's amendment has met the approval of Tony Banks, who has signed.

The former Sports Minister is the most vocal anti-hunt campaigner in the Commons and he doesn't often agree with "middle way" advocate Peter on such matters.

I am sure normal hostilities will be swiftly resumed.