Vote: who is top dog in Westminster?

‘If you want a friend’ growled Michael Douglas in Wall Street ‘get a dog.’ Gordon Gekko’s words about the fierce world of finance could just as well apply to the dog-eat-dog world of Westminster, where young pups and old hounds scrap to be top dog. And it seems quite a few MPs have followed the example of the fictitious banker, judging by the number of entries to this month’s Westminster Dog of the Year competition.

The much-loved award is hosted by the Kennel Club and Dogs Trust and aims to highlight the ‘unique role dogs play in society’ and provide MPs with the opportunity to raise canine-related issues. It will be the first time the contest is held since 2018 thanks to the snap election and intervention of Covid, with organisers hoping to focus on prompting responsible dog ownership in light of the boom in dog ownership during the pandemic.

Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, told Mr S that: ‘The competition is strictly apolitical; judges will be looking for the dogs’ good deeds and devotion to their owner rather than policies or opinions.’ This