Scotland has formally banned greyhound racing after MSPs backed new legislation that outlaws the sport, closing the door on any future return of commercial tracks. The move comes less than a year after the country’s last greyhound stadium, in Fife, shut its doors, leaving no active venues in operation.
The Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill makes it a criminal offence to race greyhounds on oval tracks anywhere in Scotland. Offenders now face penalties of up to five years in prison and a £20,000 fine, underlining the Scottish Parliament’s hardening stance on animal welfare breaches.
The bill, introduced by Green MSP Mark Ruskell, was passed by 70 votes to 27, with 19 abstentions, after ministers dropped their initial opposition and allowed it to proceed.
Proponents of the ban framed the legislation as a necessary step to prevent serious harm to dogs should any track attempt to reopen. Mr Ruskell argued that racing greyhounds at speeds of up to 40 mph around tight oval tracks led to “catastrophic injuries and deaths”, including broken legs and backs, paralysis and severe head trauma.
Animal welfare campaigners echoed those concerns, pointing to years of injury statistics and calling the outcome overdue. Lorraine Baker, of the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary, said “the statistics speak for themselves”, welcoming the law as a guarantee that no new track will emerge to repeat past harms.
Opponents questioned the need for a ban given that there are currently no operational greyhound tracks in Scotland. Former stadium owner Paul Brignal branded the move a “huge waste of taxpayers money”, arguing that parliamentary time could have been better spent on more pressing issues.
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Mark Bird, chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, went further, describing the legislation as “unevidenced” and “illogical”. He said it would “help no-one in Scotland – least of all greyhounds”, and suggested voters would be baffled that MSPs had devoted hours to banning an activity that “does not even exist” in the country.
Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie defended the decision, insisting that the risks inherent in greyhound racing could not be adequately mitigated and that the only way to protect dogs was to end the practice entirely. Supporters say the ban puts Scotland in a stronger position on animal welfare and removes any ambiguity about the future of the industry.
However, some opposition MSPs dismissed the bill as “virtue-signalling legislation” that would do little to improve animal welfare in practice, given the lack of active tracks. The split highlights a broader debate at Holyrood over how far parliament should go in legislating on symbolic or pre-emptive issues.
