Labour infighting at Westminster Dog of the Year Show

Rocky the chocolate lab from Batley and Spen bagged the coveted trophy, then went AWOL

Rocky the Chocolate Labrador claimed the coveted first prize

Labour is meant to have moved on from bitter public infighting but evidently no one’s told Rocky (Batley and Spen) or Albert Attlee Morgan (Portsmouth South).

It was not yet eleven am when the pair were spotted squaring up to one another in Victoria Tower Gardens, much to the dismay of local party activists, and their owners Tracy Brabin and Stephen Morgan.

Albert Attlee Morgan, a Labradoodle who “was almost called Bevan” seemed to get the better of the exchanges, but Chocolate Labrador Rocky was to have the last laugh just moments later, when he was crowned overall winner of the 25th Westminster Dog of the Year Show.

“I can’t believe it, I’m so happy,” was Rocky’s owner Tracy Brabin’s immediate verdict. Rocky was so happy he sprang direct from the plinth and halfway across the park, much to the frustration of no fewer than twenty five press photographers with nothing better to do.

There had been a cake to mark this Silver Jubilee celebration. It was made of chocolate, and very much not for dogs, of which a dozen had assembled to take part.

This correspondent fancied Ted, the unusually light coloured cockapoo beholden to former Culture Secretary Maria Miller. Ted was rapid over the jumps, but success in the Westminster Dog Show tends to fall on those on their way up the greasy pole. Andrew Mitchell and Sir Tim Duncan were both victorious (in 2009 and 2013) and both landed government jobs not long after.

Asked to name Ted’s special skill, Ms Miller claimed “jumping and leaping in fields in Hampshire.” The naughtiest thing he has ever done is “chewing through several harnesses.” These two incidents, it was made clear, are not to be confused. And the fields in question are not fields of wheat.

Corona and Boomer, Border Collies belonging to Alan Norris, Labour member for Nottingham North won the pawblic vote. That there were two of them was not, for some reason, in contravention of the rules.

Rebecca Pow and a beagle called Bonnie bagged silver. Ted finished third.

Same time next year.