Two politically minded cats from Renfrewshire are hoping to win votes from across the UK as they compete to become Westminster's next 'Purr Minister'.
Clem and Mo, owned by Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP Johanna Baxter, are vying for the title of Westminster's top cat in the animal welfare charity Battersea's popular competition.
The contest sees pets belonging to MPs and Peers compete for the coveted position.
Now open for voting, the competition is expected to bring a sense of fun and light-heartedness to the political scene.
However, beneath the whisker-twitching campaign promises, there is a serious message.
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The candidates aim to spotlight real issues affecting cats and their owners, such as rising vet bills and the challenges of responsible pet care.
Clement Cattlee and ‘Mo Meowlam are pledging to address these issues, with their "manifursto" promising to "reform the vet market to reflect the NHS spirit, ensuring care is based on need, not bank accounts."
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Other contestants include Bella, aged 14, the senior cat among the contestants, who has Adrian Ramsay MP as her owner.
Bella's "manifursto" includes promises to address delayed tuna delivery.
Ebba, owned by Helen-Ann Hartley, Lord Bishop of Newcastle, is standing for Purr Minister with a pledge to encourage cats to “because it’s time to stop cat-napping through life and start living it paws-first!”
Meanwhile, Dr Scott Arthur MP's pet Millie is also competing, demanding "unlimited naps, prime sunbeam access, and immediate snack distribution on request", as well as claiming all cardboard boxes as sovereign cat territory.
The competition serves as a platform for Battersea to keep cat welfare on Westminster’s agenda, calling for action on issues including addressing harmful extreme breeding features, properly regulating cat breeding, and ensuring more cats are microchipped in line with legal requirements.
It will remain open until Monday, August 31, allowing the public to vote for their favourite feline contender via the Battersea website.
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