Never mind the politics- it's more important than that

This week is a momentous week in Westminster. No, it is not the Protection of Freedoms Bill, which repeals Labour's costly ID Card and biometric database folly. Nor is it the economic effects on this country of the crisis in the Eurozone or the progress through the House of Lords of the Health and Social Care Bill. On all these the coalition is united and Lib Dem and Conservative are as one. Yet, a dark shadow of division is already falling uneasily over Westminster and the coalition. MPs are gathering in corners to discuss the possibility of victory or defeat and the prospects of unseemly rows. For this week, it is the Westminster Dog of the Year Show. This is a competitive affair, in which for the first time, I have entered on behalf of Torridge and West Devon, our dog George. George is a pedigree Bullmastiff, a rescue dog, who has been a member of the family now for nearly 18 months. Bred to fight, George displayed such a complete lack of aggression that he was thrown out onto the street and was found wandering by the police. We found him in a cage at Battersea Dogs Home where he had been for eight weeks. Our previous Bullmastiff rescue, Beulah, had recently died after three very happy years with us, probably because she had been beaten by her previous owners, who had used her for puppy farming. This had caused her a fracture of her spine. She had grown a spur of bone that had gradually paralysed her. So we decided to take George into our home and our hearts and he has adopted us. It is astonishing how brutally cruel human beings can be to animals and, without being sentimental, it is a measure of our own humanity how we treat them. The British are rightly severe on those who abuse animals. The Westminster Dog of the Year Show, organised by the Kennel Club, is a chance to celebrate the extraordinary relationship we have with our dogs, which is so important to many people in Torridge as elsewhere. Whatever happens, George will take the competition in his very large stride. It's his owners who will be nervous!