Bella, a 14-year-old cat belonging to Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsay, has been named Westminster's Top Cat for 2026, earning the title of Purr Minister. She received 877 votes from the public, surpassing the Bishop of Newcastle's cat, Ebba, who garnered 741 votes.
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Ramsay expressed his pride in Bella, stating, "I'm delighted that the real boss of our house, Bella, has been crowned Purr Minister of the United Kingdom. I'm very proud of her."
Each year, pets from Westminster compete for this title, with notable previous winners including Patrick, the Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle's cat, and Larry, the feline resident of Number 10.
In her "manifursto" pledges, Bella promised that "cats retain supreme authority over dogs, dog beds, and all disputed soft furnishings" and that "paper money will be replaced by tuna, Dreamies, and premium catnip."
Ramsay emphasized the importance of animal welfare in his role, noting, "We are a nation of animal lovers, and I am proud to play a leading role in championing animal issues in parliament. Animal protection isn't a side issue; it is fundamental to the kind of country we want to be and the public rightly expects us to act."