A CLACKS MSP has secured support to introduce a bill seeking to ban greyhound racing in Scotland to “put paws before profits”.

MSP Mark Ruskell, representative for Mid Scotland and Fife, has secured the support of 24 other members to introduce his member’s bill to Scottish Parliament after the summer recess.

He explained the proposed Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Scotland) Bill seeks to promote the welfare of the animals by introducing an offence of permitting a greyhound to compete at racetracks in Scotland.

Mr Ruskell, a long-time campaigner on the issue, is determined to push ahead with the legislation and hopes to win the backing of parliament.

However, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), highlighted that Scotland has no licensed greyhound racecourses and it hopes that “extensive welfare protections” could be introduced by offering its regulatory regime.

The board also pointed to inaccurate and misleading use of its injury and retirement data when it comes to trackside deaths and injuries.

Mr Ruskell, Scottish Greens representative, said: “My bill aims to protect greyhounds from the many risks that come from being forced to race around tracks at high speed.

“With industry figures showing that the death rate is going up across the UK, it's time to take action.

“Public opinion is on our side, and I am heartened by the support that my bill has received so far.

“I urge racecourse owners and the wider industry to listen hard and to stand up for Scotland’s greyhounds by putting paws before profit and ending the races for good.”

While the politician said public opinion is on his side, GBGB pointed to Scottish Government consultation on proposals to extend the statutory animal licensing framework.

It showed that 46.3 per cent of respondents supported the proposal while 46 per cent were not sure.

An official analysis said those unsure answered so “as they don’t think licensing will be enough to protect the welfare of racing greyhounds” and they wanted to see racing phased out.

It is also the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission’s view that phasing out racing “is desirable”.

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GBGB data showed that 109 greyhounds died trackside in 2023, an increase from 99 the year before but at a rate of 0.03 per cent of total runs in both cases.

The rate of death per runs has halved from 0.06 per cent in 2020.

The board also warned against misinterpretation of injury figures, which do not show the number of animals injured but the total number of injuries suffered.

A spokesperson for GBGB said: “We note the Scottish Green Party’s statement on the status of their proposed bill.

“We also note that the Scottish Government has recently said, at this time, they are not persuaded of the need to ban greyhound racing in Scotland.

“Scotland currently has no licensed greyhound racecourses and we continue to work with those in Holyrood to set out the extensive welfare protections that would be offered under our own existing regulatory regime.”