Many of us have fallen completely in love with the gorgeous Jennie, Steve Darling MP’s guide dog.
Many of us, but maybe not Larry the No 10 cat. The two caught sight of each other as some of our Lib Dem MPs went to deliver a petition on climate change.
Vet Danny Chambers, our new MP for Winchester captured the moment on camera.
When @rthonjennie clocked @Number10cat
Hoping not to have to put my veterinary training to use. pic.twitter.com/a5zknvyjjr
— Danny Chambers MP 🔸🩺 (@DannyVet) July 24, 2024
The start of a beautiful friendship?
Steve has been talking to Politics Home about what Westminster needs to do to make Parliament more accessible.
He told PoliticsHome that comprehending signage above head height is among the things that he has found difficult on the estate so far.
When asked about accessibility in Parliament, he pointed first to ““signage for committee rooms,” saying: “The numbering of the committee rooms is at the top of the door, so I just have to remember where Committee Room 10 is and things like that.”
He said the same is true for some of the toilets.
He was full of praise for the staff:
However, the new Lib Dem MP said that the “the general culture of the doorkeepers and the staff has been incredibly positive and engaging, so you can’t ask for more than that.”
And his biggest challenges so far?
Darling initially also faced a hurdle in securing the accessibility platforms he needed to be able to work with Parliament’s IT systems, but that has now been resolved.
The former council leader thinks his “biggest challenge” in terms of day to day working on the estate would be using the escalator in Portcullis House, the building where MP offices are located. He hopes Jennie will receive additional training when it comes to using escalators, and that the Whips may be able to secure an office in the main Palace building.
* Newshound: bringing you the best Lib Dem commentary in print, on air or online.