Lib Dem activists have jokingly demanded chief whip Wendy Chamberlain apologises for telling off Guide Dog Jennie after she was seen brazenly crossing the Commons chamber
Lib Dem guide dog Jennie crosses the floor in the Commons
Lib Dem activists have called on the party’s top disciplinarian to apologise to a loveable Guide Dog after giving her a stern telling off.
A tongue-in-cheek motion voices outrage after golden retriever Jennie, who belongs to frontbencher Steve Darling, was rapped for crossing the floor. She was filmed brazenly strolling across the chamber seeking attention from the Government benches.
After seeing Jennie being petted by a gaggle of Labour MPs, chief whip Wendy Chamberlain summoned her for a breach of party discipline. The dog was pictured looking sheepish in Ms Chamberlain’s office.
But party members have demanded justice for Jennie at the Lib Dem spring conference. They put forward a motion urging activists to acknowledge that “establishing good relationships across parties is a sign of grown up politics”. The motion also called for recognition that “Jennie is a good girl”.
The motion called for the chief whip to “publicly apologise to Jennie and to provide her with a box of treats as compensation”. Ms Chamberlain defiantly responded: “I feel I should point out that Jenni did accept she had crossed the floor on Wednesday evening so I feel my actions were justified.”
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On Thursday Ms Chamberlain shared pictures of Jennie being given a dressing down. It came after she was spotted being stroked by gleeful opponents on Wednesday evening.
After a picture of Jennie being lavished with attention by Labour’s Mark Ferguson came to light, Ms Chamberlain quipped: “I’m expecting to see Jennie in my office in the morning!”
And the enforcer – who is responsible for maintaining party discipline – later shared pictures of Jennie looking sheepish. She wrote: “I can confirm Jennie has come to see me this morning, she said she’s sorry and won’t do it again!”
Mr Ferguson quipped that Jennie is “welcome back whenever you like”. The Guide Dog has been among the stars of the new intake after Mr Darling – who is registered blind – was elected as MP for Torbay last July. Mr Darling has previously told The Mirror that MPs and Parliamentary staff go “doe-eyed” when she’s around.
After she had revelled in the attention for more than a minute, Mr Darling retrieved her back to the Lib Dem benches. A Twitter/X account for the well-loved Lib Dem dog said after her meeting with the chief whip: “Yesterday, I may have… ahem… ‘crossed the floor’ in the House of Commons. This morning, I had a stern meeting with Chief Whip Wendy Chamberlain.
“I wagged my tail, pleaded ‘puppy eyes,’ and promised to stay loyal to the Lib Dems.” Mr Ferguson said: “Jennie is absolutely pawfect. A valued member of Parliament. She’s one Lib Dem every Labour MP would love to see on the government benches. You’re welcome back whenever you like Jennie!”
Jennie has had a difficult path to her new-found fame, having been attacked by an XL Bully in 2023. Heroic Mr Darling and three others wrestled the dog off her after it went for her throat.
He wrote to then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman calling for tougher laws targeting irresponsible dog owners. Soon after Jennie’s first appearance in the Commons, Mr Darling told The Mirror: “Jennie has been really enjoying her first few days in Parliament. Staff, security and MPs have been engaging positively with her, many of them very doe-eyed and she has been brilliant at taking tension out of new situations.”
She has become a well-known figure, famously sleeping through Rachel Reeves’ budget speech back in October. The Guide Dog has been branded the “best politician in Parliament”.
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