While people may be suspicious of politicians bearing gifts, goats are just happy to take each and every carrot going.

And so it’s lucky that MP Justine Greening, on a visit to meet education’s most famous goats on Monday at Varndean School in Brighton, remembered to bring a bag.

The fact that a former education secretary, in the middle of the political crisis around Brexit, had decided to spend her day visiting the Varndean goats at all demonstrates the incredible pulling power of what must be England’s most high-profile school pets.

They were first brought to the school as an alternative to a lawnmower by Varndean’s director of finance and operations, Hilary Goldsmith. But they have become valued for their role in pastoral care, with petting used as a way to tackle poor behaviour and to help with emotional regulation.

And thanks to careful tuition from Ms Goldsmith on using Twitter, the Varndean goats’ influence has spread way beyond the school gates. Last year, they were named as one of the Tes’ 10 most influential people (and the only influential goats) in education.

Now, with Ms Goldsmith moving on after Christmas to a new job as chief executive officer of a local animal welfare charity, Ms Greening’s visit seemed an appropriate testament to the power of the school goat. Ms Greening was warned by members of the school’s Goat Club that their charges were no-deal goats when it came to food. But the Putney MP was more than happy to swap high heels for trainers to meet Alan, Ethel, William, Bertie, Angel, Pavilion and Downs - albeit as they fell over themselves to snatch vegetables from her hands.

“I’m keeping it real,” Ms Greening joked - shortly before coming face-to-face with Ziggy, a 4ft-high high alpaca wearing a festive candy-cane headdress.

Meanwhile, back in Westminster, the vote on the crucial Brexit withdrawal deal was - at the time - looming, with arguments and deals continuing to dominate all business.

Ms Greening had already called for a second referendum and, while her aides kept a close eye on their phones, she made time to take the goats for a walk - after all, this visit had been months in the making.

“In politics, you have to be prepared,” Ms Greening said as she led William (the goat) to the school fields. “Things don’t always turn out as you expect and you have to make sure you are ready for all eventualities.”

Ms Greening’s aides informed her that the PM was due to make a statement about Brexit in Parliament that afternoon - Ms Greening removed her trainers, put on her high heels and left for London, with muddy hoof prints on her coat and a “goat leader” badge on her heart.

To find out who’s made the 2018 list of Tes’ 10 most influential people, pick up next week’s magazine