How Jennie the golden retriever is taking Westminster by storm (fun story) (UK) 31/July/2024

And finally, four weeks after the election, Parliament is awash of course with fresh faces, but as MPs settle into their new jobs, there's one new arrival who's causing quite the stir. Jenny the guide dog might not be an elected representative, but she's certainly getting the sort of media coverage most MPs can only dream of. In fact, she's now so popular that it's getting in the way of the day job. Sam Holder reports. Amongst the many new faces roaming Parliament, there is one that sticks out. Already so popular that the Lib Dems have given her a dedicated press officer. Say hello to Jenny the golden retriever. She helps new MP Steve Darling, who's blind, navigate the twisted staircases and endless hallways of Westminster. But a few weeks in and those journeys are starting to take longer and longer. She is a very sociable dog and her favourite hobby is being loved by people. I'm actually having to build in extra time when I'm walking in public areas because people are wanting to take selfies with Jenny. Recently, someone, not Steve or any of the Lib Dem team, started a Twitter fan account. Within days, Jenny had nearly 20,000 followers. She's already helping attract a new younger audience to Parliament and helping mend relationships within it. It's really positive, the engagement that people have had with Jenny and also across parties as well. She's a good bridger to build bridges between people from different politics. Jenny's already appeared in the Commons chamber, but being a star is tiring. Throughout today's interview, she was fast asleep. She's looking very relaxed here. She's totally conked out. Is that a regular occurrence? Yep, she does seem to be very relaxed in the chamber. She does try to take me there on a number of occasions because she knows she can get a good rest there. I've heard her snoring. You're saying that politicians speaking puts her to sleep? Only certain politicians. This rise to top dog in Parliament could have been very different. Last year, Jenny was attacked by an Excel bully. She was dripping with blood and yet 10 minutes later, once the dog had gone and she was back on the pavement, she was still putting her paw up to young children to be loved by them. Ah, a true politician. And possibly already the most popular personality in Parliament. Sam Holder, ITV News. Jenny gets my vote, that's for sure.