Corbyn the dog wins public vote as MPs’ pets enter annual contest
A DOG called Corbyn won the favour of the public as MPs put their pets on show at the 26th annual Westminster Dog of the Year competition.
The seven-month-old cockapoo – a cocker spaniel and poodle cross – who belongs to Shadow Employment Minister Mike Amesbury, and is named after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, won the most votes in yesterday’s online poll.
Mr Ames said his eight-yearold son came up with the name, but so far the dog and his namesake in the leader’s office have only met by video phone. “I always find it entertaining when my wife shouts ‘Corbyn’ when he runs off the lead,” the MP added.
The competition is open to canines belonging to MPs and Lords and celebrates the special relationship between human and dog, with more than 10 taking part with MPs from the Conservative and Labour parties. The Kennel Club organises the annual event, which this year was raising awareness of how fireworks can affect dogs. Some MPs appear alongside rescue dogs while others bring their pets from home.
The judges’ picks were two border collies, Boomer and Corona, belonging to Labour MP Alex Norris, while the runnersup were Scarlet, belonging to Andrew Mitchell, and Gooseberry, belonging to Dame Cheryl Gillan.
Adrian Burder, chief executive of Dogs Trust, said: “The competition is strictly apolitical and a chance for judges to look at the interaction between MPs and their four-legged friends.”
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary, added: “The serious side of this competition is about MPs getting together with the Kennel Club and Dogs Trust to promote responsible dog ownership and develop a partnership on dog welfare issues.”