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A minister has been blasted for using an electric shock collar to train her family dog, despite the Tories vowing to ban them.

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey phoned dog trainer Steve Andrews for help with her pug-beagle cross, Lola.

He said: “I said, ‘If you are the Therese Coffey I think you are this could be an interesting conversation [on electric collars]’. We enjoyed a bit of a joke.

“She said, ‘I have no issues with using a remote collar, how does it work?’.”

(Image: PA)

Jamie Penrith, of the Association of Responsible Dog Owners, said: “The [Government] has to either stop calling e-collars ‘cruel’ or condemn Therese Coffey for being cruel to Lola. Which is it?”

Ms Coffey was contacted for comment.