After seven years of Tory domination at the Westminster Dog of the Year competition, MPs from other parties had clearly had enough. Labour’s Anna Turley and Clem the Shih Tzu (named after Clement Attlee, of course) came down from Redcar in a bid to knock the Tories off top spot (though seemed more interested in attacking a TV boom mike), while the DUP’s Ian Paisley Jr borrowed rescue dog Freda, an English Bulldog, from the Dog’s Trust.

This year also saw its first SNP entry – Dr Lisa Cameron and French bulldog Rossi – who, having swapped East Kilbride for the bright lights of London, was finding the whole place a bit hot.

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Rossi and Dr Lisa Cameron[/caption]

The star of the show was arguably Watchman (officially, Sgt Watchman V), the mascot of the Staffordshire Regiment, and who came down for the day in his own smart uniform, and accompanied by his very own handler in full regalia. The Staffordshire bull terrier marches at local parades and events, and is the first military mascot to make it to the Westminster dog competition.

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Watchman, his handler Greg, and Mike Fabricant MP[/caption]

A troupe of six MPs – all local to Staffordshire – were his official supporters, but it was all the grand idea of Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase. Watchman’s trip down south would, she hoped, help raises awareness of the regiment, and do something to improve the bad reputation of the breed. It just goes to show that campaigning does pay off, as Watchman won the ‘pawblic’ vote and took pride of place on the podium.

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Daisy and Rebecca Pow[/caption]

Some old faces were back; Craig Williams’ Welsh springer had made the trip from Cardiff for the second year running, as had Nigel Adam’s Eevee.

It was, however, a Labour newcomer – or rather a pair of newcomers – who triumphed. Jonathan Reynolds’s labradoodles, sisters Clinton and Kennedy, were crowned as top dogs, ending a seven-year streak of Tory winners. Not to worry – a Conservative, Rebecca Harris’s Milo – came second, with Liz Savile-Roberts’s Welsh sausage Fiona in third.

What to make of the victory? 'It just goes to show that Labour can win’, said Reynolds. ‘There aren’t many successful days as a Labour MP at the moment, so it feels fantastic to win’. Mr Steerpike is sure that Clinton and Kennedy were equally pleased, and are now looking forward to pursuing a career as rappers.

'With so much drama in the PLP

It's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O-double-G'#WestminsterDogoftheYeartoday pic.twitter.com/G4zBhFLkd7

— Jonathan Reynolds MP (@jreynoldsMP) September 8, 2016