I’m sure people in all parties have dogs – but one thing I have learnt is that dogs and animals matter for Liberal Democrats. Animal welfare runs at the very core of much of what we stand for as was illustrated by the campaigns of Adrian Sanders MP, for example.

At parliamentary by-elections, so often the vital injection of electoral energy into our party lifeblood, there is often an animal hero at the heart of our campaign, the result and our story-telling.

Last night, Nina, beloved dog of Cllr Pete Roberts, and by-election stalwart, crossed the rainbow bridge after 14 human years of faithful service.

She was an exceptional dog: a lanky, brindle pup with white socks on her paws. Back at the beginning of their faithful partnership when Nina tapped her paw on the bars of the cage, she stole Pete’s heart.

Nina, NinaBo, bear, wolf, hyena, campaign wonder-dog. She had so many names and so many friends gathered over years of by-election attendance and campaigns.

Nina had five television appearances and of course the the well-known anecdote “I know that dog, she always turns up at places we can win, I need to get there tomorrow”. And that was just based on the photo on the first day in the North Shropshire parliamentary by-election (won by Helen Morgan MP).

For us Liberal Democrats we often talk about the family, and the loss of someone is a loss to all of us, but the pets and the quirks matter. In my own campaign in my own division Sparky the Husky is without a-doubt an electoral asset.

The warm reception and the depth of affection of Jennie the guide dog and Steve Darling MP from Conference and the wider Party tells you a lot about how much that family matters.

Pete Roberts wrote on his own Facebook page about Nina: “I will miss you, but you gave me 18 wonderful extra months as you confounded everyone as you lived well with cancer.  I know you struggled towards the end, but as a break gave you that extra lease of life, so another one let us know that it was time for you to go while that glint in your eye was still burning.

“I will miss you. We won both my elections together, but all the memories will live on with me, and everyone whose path you crossed.”

I’m sure I speak for the whole Party in sending Pete our heartfelt love and thanks for Nina’s life.

Now Nina has crossed the rainbow bridge, she has almost certainly joined the Lib Dem Focus team at the feasting table in the electoral division that they have named Valhalla. She has joined the table where Paddy the Fearless, Charles of Clan Kennedy, Nancy the Seer have been singing the song of Erlend the Liberal and Nina is persuading and charming people ready for the stakeboard team to follow. For those Lib Dem dogs such as Nina there will always be an endless supply of bones and treats from the feasting table and we give thanks for their life and service.

Goodbye and farewell Nina and thank you. Nina Roberts, faithful election winner and dog was born 4/11/2011 and crossed the rainbow bridge on 29/4/2026

* Ed Fordham is a Former Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Highgate 2005, Hampstead and Kilburn 2010 and currently Group Leader on Derbyshire County Council.