In the dog-eat-dog world of Westminster, the Chancellor can count on his new political animal
As Aldous Huxley noted: “To his dog, every man is Napoleon.” Which means little Lola — George Osborne’s new bichon frisé puppy — has major delusions of grandeur when it comes to her owner’s importance. On Sunday, the Chancellor tweeted a picture of the new resident of 11 Downing Street, who looks like Snowy from Tintin but with added fluff factor. Apparently, there have been “some early issues with toilet training” but the family love her.
The Chancellor presumably knows that a dog is for life, not just for the Autumn Statement. But while Osborne’s pre-Budget Byron burger brought ridicule, Lola could be an electoral asset. At least, other politicians clearly think so.
At the Eastleigh by-election in February, co-opted canines were dragged door-stepping with rosettes pinned to their collars. There was Otto, a sausage dog belonging to Gregory Barker MP; Sparky, who pounded the streets for the National Health Action Party; and two appropriately British breeds for Ukip candidate Diane James.
And while hounds aren’t really welcomed in the Palace of Westminster, that doesn’t stop a few being smuggled in. There, Otto — nicknamed Otto von Dachshund — has long been top dog. But he may have competition: earlier this year, international development minister Alan Duncan adopted a poodle-cocker spaniel cross called Noodle, while Jake Berry MP’s poodle, also called Lola, is so photogenic she has starred in an ad campaign for clothing chain Hobbs. Meanwhile, education secretary Michael Gove also has a bichon frisé which his journalist wife Sarah Vine claims is “a terrible diva”, and Romford’s Andrew Rosindell has a Staffie, Buster, who wears a Union Jack coat and whose photograph adorns Rosindell’s Westminster office.
MPs, being competitive types, have a mutt-off in the Commons each year at the Westminster Dog of the Year competition, run by the Kennel Club. There, the Tories can actually get a majority: Right-wing hounds have won for the past four years.
So why do politicians love a tail-chaser? Oddly, owning a dog seems to humanise MPs to the electorate. As the comedian and social activist Dick Gregory noted: “The feeling seems to be engendered that if a dog loves the candidate, he can’t be all that bad.” And then there’s the love itself: dogs are never fickle in their affection, unlike the voters. If you’ve been torn apart in the House, a wagging tail still greets you at your house. When the sharks are circling, you feel less lonely with a loyal hound as a sidekick.
Dogs are not without electoral risks, though. One MP’s hound tried to fight with a guide dog on the Tube recently; not something that would play well back in the constituency. In the dog-eat-dog world of politics, it’s best to have a pet that is more bark than bite.
