Meeting of the Parliament 29 January 2026 [Draft]
::I recognise the work that Mark Ruskell MSP has put into the bill and I am genuinely grateful for the discussions that we have had on the issue in recent months. Although I have not been through the member’s bill process myself, I understand that it can be demanding.
There is no doubt that the welfare of animals matters deeply to all of us and that the intention behind the bill—to protect greyhounds from harm—comes from genuine concern. However, I have to be honest that I struggle to believe that it is a priority for the Parliament, given the important issues that the people of Scotland look for us to act on.
As the stage 1 report from the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee made clear, not all members are convinced that a ban is justified now. Although I note that the committee narrowly supported the general principles of the bill, there were concerns that there was insufficient new evidence to firmly establish the need for a ban.
A question also remains for me about proportionality. No licensed greyhound racing is taking place in Scotland, with the last fully licensed track having closed several years ago. That raises a fundamental question: are we legislating to end an activity that already no longer exists and, if so, is a blanket prohibition the best or most proportionate way to address welfare concerns?
I also place on record a concern about how we have arrived at this point. My understanding is that, during earlier consideration of the issue, the Scottish Government was clear that a ban was not necessary and pointed instead towards regulation and licensing—I am conscious that Jim Fairlie just touched on that—but, during the progress of the bill, that position has changed.
It is important for me that legislation of this nature should be driven by clear reasoning and transparency. A properly designed licensing and regulatory framework, which I understand the Government already has powers to introduce, could have gone further in safeguarding the welfare of greyhounds throughout their lives, whether they race in Scotland or elsewhere.
There are existing animal welfare protections in Scottish law, most notably the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, which already makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and gives ministers powers to set codes of practice and licensing for animal-related activities. Some stakeholders argued that strengthening regulation, licensing and oversight could better protect greyhounds throughout their life cycle, rather than an outright ban that might drive activities underground or simply displace concerns across borders.
Animal welfare remains an important priority for me and the Scottish Conservatives. Although I see the motivation behind the bill, because of what I have set out, I am afraid that we cannot support it at stage 1.