An Oxfordshire MP's pet is up for the best cat in Parliament. 

The UK’s political cats have launched their bid to become Britain’s most influential feline in Purr Minister 2024, a competition organised by leading animal welfare charity Battersea.

The competition is back after four years, and one cat hoping to be elected the new furry leader of the UK is Murphy, owned by Layla Moran.

Speaking on behalf of her 21-year-old cat candidate, the MP for Oxford West and Abingdon said: “Murphy has a wealth of expertise and great new paw-licies she thinks will benefit the country.”

Over the last few weeks, politicians and peers from around the UK have submitted a "manifursto" on behalf of their furry friends, and now the shortlist of candidates will be put to a public vote to find the top cat of the nation.

Battersea’s Cattery Manager, Bridie Williams, said: "The candidate shortlist is the most impressive yet, and it will undoubtedly be a fur-ocious, claws out contest.

"The competition will give them the acknowledgement they deserve for these unfaltering efforts, whilst also drawing due attention to some important animal welfare issues.

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“At Battersea we believe that every cat is one-of-a-kind, but there can be only one winner, and we can’t wait to see who the public chooses to be their new furry leader.”

Members of the public can vote for their top cat at: https://www.battersea.org.uk/about-us/news/purr-minister-2024.

Voting will close at 5pm on November 14 and the winner will be announced on November 21.

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