'No plans' for UK greyhound racing ban beyond Wales

There are "absolutely no plans" to extend a greyhound racing ban announced in Wales to the rest of the United Kingdom, the UK culture secretary has said.

Welsh Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies revealed plans last week to wind down the sport, which has been criticised for harming dogs.

But on Thursday Lisa Nandy told MPs she appreciates the "joy" greyhound racing brings and its the "economic contribution".

The Wales ban, the first in the UK, follows cross-party calls to outlaw the sport, a government consultation and a petition attracting 35,000 signatures.

Wales has just one dog-racing track: the Valley Stadium in Ystrad Mynach.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds has said the ban was "part of the package" agreed with Labour ministers to allow the Welsh government's 2025-26 budget to get through the Senedd.

Irranca-Davies told Senedd members he had "seen the strength of feeling on this, and I have listened", pointing to bans in other countries, including New Zealand where the government announced one in December.

No date has been announced for a Welsh ban, but the deputy first minister said: "I want a ban to come into force as soon as practicably possible.

The Welsh government will ask an "implementation group" to flesh out proposals and learn from other countries.

The news was welcomed by a coalition of animal welfare charities including the Dogs Trust, which called for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland should follow suit.

But the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which regulates the sport, said the announcement had "nothing to do with greyhound welfare and everything to do with pressure from the extreme animal rights movement".

During Thursday's culture, media and sport questions in the Commons, shadow culture minister Louie French said: "At the end of last year, the minister for sports (Stephanie Peacock) stated the importance of greyhound racing to the nation's culture and economy.

"But last week Labour in Wales announced its intention to ban greyhound racing as soon as practically possible.

"Will the secretary of state tell us who she agrees with, her sports minister or the deputy first minister, and will she make clear if she is planning to ban greyhound racing across the UK?"

Nandy replied: "I can answer his question directly. I agree with the sports minister.

"We have absolutely no plans whatsoever to ban greyhound racing. We appreciate the joy that it brings to many, many people in our country and the economic contribution that it makes."

The UK government, when asked last week if it was considering a ban in England, declined to comment.

A source told the BBC the GBGB had undertaken a number of welfare reforms, and that officials were monitoring the organisation's progress.

Banning greyhound racing in England was ruled out by the previous UK Conservative government.