Meet Jennie the guide dog - parliament's newest furry star
Jennie the golden retriever has become a star in her first week in the Commons as she accompanies new MP Steve Darling. He says she's a happy-go-lucky addition to the team, despite suffering a trauma last year when she was attacked by an XL bully.
Monday 15 July 2024 03:02, UK
Larry the Downing Street cat may be the UK's most famous mouser, but he's got some sharp competition with the Commons' newest furry occupant.
Jennie the golden retriever (who is a quarter Labrador) has become quite the star in her first few days of the new parliament.
Guide dog to new Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling, who is registered blind, Jennie made her debut in the Commons last week.
She was seen patiently lying down by the front benches as MPs gathered in the chamber for the first time to elect the Speaker.
And Mr Darling, former leader of Torbay council, could be heard gently telling her to "stay there, good girl" as he was sworn in as the MP for Torbay on Wednesday.
Her X account (@rthonjennie) was only set up on Wednesday, but already has nearly 16,000 followers.
She has a few more followers to reach Larry's 890,000-strong fanbase - but he does have a 13-year start on her.
Jennie, four, is the MP's first guide dog, although he has been blind since he was 18, and has been with him for two years.
Mr Darling told Sky News: "Colleagues are already describing Jennie as the 73rd member of the Liberal Democrats, which is rather fun.
"She's a bridge to people from other parties - everybody's been so warm and welcoming to her.
"One Labour member came up and wanted a selfie with Jennie, which is rather heartening.
"Even the police with big guns in parliament, they all go doe-eyed as Jennie walks by.
"Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has spoken about rebuilding trust with the electorate, and that's the most important thing of all.
"The most important thing in your local community is trying to rebuild that trust in politics, and I hope Jennie can be part of that."
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Jennie is the second guide dog to grace the Commons, with Lord Blunkett's guide dog a regular while he was an MP from 1987 to 2015.
Lord Blunkett has given Mr Darling advice on having a guide dog in parliament, where the MP says everybody has been very accommodating.
While Jennie is happy to rest her chin on people's knees, she is fearful of flat-faced dogs after an American XL bully, now banned, attacked her last year.
She was out campaigning with Mr Darling when the dog escaped its owner's house and attacked her.
"It wasn't fully grown but it still took four of us to get it off Jennie," Mr Darling said.
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"It was that scream from her that I never, ever want to hear - or will sadly never forget.
"The bite looked almost like a shark bite. It was horrendous, but even when she was dripping with blood and we were waiting for help to arrive she was still putting her paw up to children.
"So she's now fearful of flat-faced dogs, if she sees them she'll just keep to herself. It could have easily broken her, but she's a happy-go-lucky-dog so I'm very lucky."
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