The highly controversial Bill to ban greyhound racing in Wales went a step further on Tuesday at the Senedd, despite the Bill being heavily condemned by two of the Senedd’s own committees.
In a clear nod to the animal rights sector, Senedd Members from all parties denounced their disapproval of animals being used for entertainment, thrusting horseracing and all forms of animal use into an incredibly uncertain future in Wales.
Welsh Conservative Member Altaf Hussein, Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds, Plaid Cymru’s Delyth Jewel and even the Minister for Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies were just some of the Members who showed that this Bill was indeed about animal rights and not welfare, backing this up with stark statements.
In her capacity as Chair of the Culture committee Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru) heavily criticised the Bill raising serious concern about the highly contested evidence presented to her committee and the robustness of that evidence, the way in which Welsh Government had carried out the consultation and the risk of unintended consequences. Despite this, she concluded her delivery to the Senedd with her own personal view stating:
"Personally, I do not believe that risk of foreseeable harm to any animal can be justified in the name of sport. It is my belief that, for those of us living in a civilised society, our duty is not to manage that harm at the margins, but to prevent it altogether."
Former Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths who had always leant to the animal rights lobby said:
"We should not tolerate the suffering of animals in the name of entertainment."
Answering the debate the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies said that the Bill was “a response to clear public and cross-party support for positive change driven by animal welfare concerns, ethical considerations and growing recognition that using animals for entertainment is increasingly seen as unacceptable.”
There was, however, some sensible opposition from Senedd Members who criticised heavily the process in which this Bill came about, noting the scrutiny and serious concerns of both the Senedd’s Justic and Culture Committees. Llyr Gruffydd (Plaid Cymru,) Gareth Davies and James Evans (Welsh Conservatives,) fought hard for greyhound racing and indeed echoed the Alliances concerns for the wider use of animals, yet this notorious Bill passed with 36-11 votes in favour of accepting the Bill’s general principles.
The Bill will now move to Stage 2, where the Culture Committee will consider detailed amendments before further scrutiny and a final vote by the full Senedd. Meanwhile the Greyhound Board of Great Britain have been granted a Judicial Review.