By Patrick Baga

Last week, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP made a compelling case for ending greyhound racing on both welfare and economic grounds. And amongst both the backbench and at ministerial level, he is hardly alone.

When scrutinizing the evidence, it is difficult to reach any other conclusion. Just as the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission determined years ago, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), the industry-self-regulator, cannot safeguard the welfare of greyhounds. In 2025, the rate of injury and on-track deaths increased, despite fewer races being run. The GBGB also expects overrun charities and selfless adopters to cover the vast majority of expenses for rest-of-life care for surviving dogs.

Neil Duncan-Jordan referenced the bans in Scotland and Wales. In an age of hyper-partisanship, Green, Independent, Labour, Lib Dem, Plaid Cymru, SNP and Tory MSPs and MSs all cast votes in favour of ending the practice. Globally, MPs across New Zealand’s political spectrum joined together to call time on dog racing there, and earlier this year Democrats and Republicans in the US House rejected an amendment that sought to strip out language for a national ban.

Helping greyhounds unites people who disagree on virtually everything else. They naturally attract allies of in-kind social justice movements, but also those who are more sceptical of change. Regardless of political persuasion, people recognise greyhounds have been robbed of the dignity they deserve and work together to restore it.

Neil Duncan-Jordan and many of his colleagues understand where this debate is headed and how this story ends. As the Labour left and Labour right seek policy consensus under the Burnham banner, this could just be one issue that has broad appeal. Labour MPs could be emboldened to sincerely champion greyhounds at the next election – in effect forcing other parties to match a pro-greyhound position or get left behind.

In an age of negativity, greyhounds remind us that we have more in common than what divides us. Around the world, people are throwing them a lifeline. It is encouraging to see England preparing to do the same. 

Patrick Baga is Director of Advocacy and Research at GREY2K USA Worldwide.

On facebook.com/grey2kusa and X/IG: @GREY2KUSA.

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Greyhound_Racing_amk.jpg Author: AngMoKio, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.