Steve Darling and guide dog Jennie win the hearts of Westminster’s Dog of the Year

Steve Darling on guide dog Jennie's fame in the House of CommonsSource: The Independent

Transcript

00:00I'm Steve Darling. I'm the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, and I've got Jenny, my guide dog,

00:06who's entered into Westminster Dog of the Year. She takes her time in Parliament very seriously.

00:12I think she's really good at bridge building between parties, and she enjoys being loved by

00:20as many people as possible, but clearly without any scandals. Many people will have seen Jenny

00:26just relaxing in the Commons, and she does seem to reduce the temperature of the House of Commons

00:33when she gets into the chamber.

00:36Apart from being a working dog, what does Jenny bring to your life?

00:40I think the confidence. Both my wife and I have guide dogs, and to be able to go around strange areas.

00:48I've got some residual vision. I've got about 3%. Guide dogs aren't just there for totally blind people.

00:55They're also there for people like myself who have very limited eyesight, and she just gives me that confidence

01:02as well as in our home.

01:04And obviously she gets a lot of attention when we see her in the chamber. Has the fame gone to her head?

01:09Not really. I think she gets off the train in Paddington, and the tail is on a high setting

01:18as she walks down the platform, thinking that she's going to that big palace in central London

01:23that's just built for her, for people to come and love her.