Chris Packham backs Scottish bill to end greyhound racing — a campaigner’s voice in a pivotal moment
chris packham has backed Mark Ruskell’s bill to end greyhound racing in Scotland, lending the conservationist’s public voice to a campaign framed around animal welfare data and a looming parliamentary decision. The endorsement arrives as the bill is expected to be debated on Thursday, 12 March and to face votes in the days ahead.
How did this support unfold and what does it mean?
Mark Ruskell, Scottish Green MSP, welcomed the endorsement from Chris Packham, a writer, photographer, campaigner and host of shows like Springwatch and the Really Wild Show. Ruskell said that greyhounds are “wonderful animals” and “should not be forced to run at such speed and at so much risk of injury or death, ” urging that “every greyhound deserves a happy and healthy life. “
The bill has already moved through a notable step of backing: in September, the Scottish Government endorsed Mr Ruskell’s Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill, a development highlighted by supporters as an important milestone on the path to law. A spokesperson for the Greyhound Board of Great Britain challenged the focus of parliamentary time, saying “there is currently no licensed greyhound racing in Scotland” and expressing bewilderment that the government and Green Party would prioritize legislation they described as addressing an activity that does not take place there.
Why Chris Packham supports the ban
chris packham framed his support in moral and welfare terms. He said: “A ban would be a tremendous result for animal welfare, for dogs and for Scotland. Times need to change and leaving animal cruelty in the past is an imperative. Greyhound racing with all of its associated misery has no place in 21st century Britain. Wales and England must follow this lead. Hats off to Mark Ruskell and all those who have got us to this point. “
Supporters of the bill point to institutional data used in the public case: the RSPCA notes there are only nine countries in the world that still allow commercial greyhound racing, including all four UK nations. Data from 2023 cited by proponents shows 109 greyhounds died trackside in the UK, an increase on the number for 2022, and 4, 238 injuries to greyhounds during racing in 2023. Those figures have been central to the argument that the sport causes significant harm and that legislative change is required.
What happens next — politics, responses and the human stakes
The immediate procedural steps are straightforward in public terms: the bill is due for debate on Thursday, 12 March and is expected to be voted on in the days ahead. If enacted, the measure would make Scotland the first of the UK nations to implement such a ban, a point supporters highlight when calling on Wales and England to follow. Mark Ruskell described the move as an opportunity to “finally end this cruel gambling-led sport for good. “
Voices on all sides are engaged. A spokesperson for the Greyhound Board of Great Britain questioned the need for legislation where, they state, there is no licensed racing currently in Scotland and suggested parliamentary time could be spent on other issues. Supporters, reinforced by Chris Packham’s public backing, counter that institutional data and recent injury and fatality figures make the moral case for prohibition.
The human dimension runs deeper than parliamentary arithmetic: advocates stress the welfare of animals and the obligations of lawmakers, while opponents raise questions about legislative priorities. The debate frames a choice about how modern societies reconcile tradition, gambling-linked industries and evolving standards for animal protection.
A closing turn back to the campaign
As the vote approaches and the debate is scheduled, the coalition of political and public voices has crystallized around the question of whether Scotland will move to ban a sport its backers call obsolete and harmful. Mark Ruskell expressed optimism that, with public support and endorsements such as that from Chris Packham, the cruelty associated with greyhound racing can be brought to an end. The coming parliamentary days will determine whether that optimism becomes law, leaving advocates and critics to weigh the facts, figures and moral arguments at the heart of the issue.
