The Bishop of Newcastle is hoping her cat will be voted the UK's Purr Minister 2026 after a paw-litical campaign focused on keeping the nation active. Battersea Cat and Dog Shelter's Purr Minister campaign sees MPs and Peers put their cats to a public vote for the top mog.
Ebba's Manifursto
Each cat-didate submits a "Manifursto" explaining why they've got what it takes to rule the house. Though it seems like a bit of fun, many of the cats highlight issues close to their owner's hearts, including reforming the vet market to reflect the NHS, and assess pets' health ensuring it is based on need rather than cost.
The Diocese of Newcastle posted on Facebook: "Bishop Helen-Ann’s cat, Ebba, is standing to be elected as Battersea's next Purr Minister. Hoping to make the nation purr-fectly active, Ebba promises a healthier, more pawsitive future for all - one paw-step at a time!"
Previous Purr Minister
It is not the first time Ebba has been up for Purr Minister, with Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle's cat Attlee receiving 969 public votes and being crowned Parliament's top cat.
Full list of cats campaigning
- Bella, owned by Adrian Ramsay, Green Party MP for Waveney Valley
- Clem and Mo, owner by Johanna Baxter, Labour MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South
- Ebba, owned by Helen-Ann Hartley, Lord Bishop of Newcastle
- Millie, owned by Scott Arthur MP, Labour MP for Edinburgh South West
How to vote
To cast your vote for Ebba, or any of the other paw-litical cats in the running, visit the Battersea website. Voting closes at 9am on Monday, August 31, with the winner announced on September 8.
