Today in Parliament, Abigail gave notice of a motion commending the 111,155 people who signed The Blue Cross UK petition calling for an end to greyhound racing.
Abigail said:
I give notice that on the next sitting day I will move:
(1) That this House notes that:
- the United Kingdom (UK) is one step closer to ending greyhound racing after a petition to ban greyhound racing in the UK has received 111,155 signatures, massively surpassing their goal of 100,000,
- the petition was endorsed by British Labour MPs Mike Tapp and Helena Dollimore, and was organised by The Blue Cross, a non-profit organisation in the UK that has helped and advocated for sick, injured and homeless animals, and the people who love them, since 1897,
- greyhound racing is still legal in only seven countries worldwide, with four of those being the UK nations and one of them Australia,
- The Blue Cross’ petition has been handed to the UK Parliament, where politicians will debate the demands of over 100,000 people to end greyhound racing in the UK once and for all,
- this enormous feat is a testament to the millions of people worldwide who are increasingly joining calls to shut down greyhound racing across the globe, and signals another leap forward in the global decline of animal racing, and
- in July 2024 the only dog track in Mexico closed and all 350 surviving greyhounds were released for adoption, countries including South Africa and Jamaica have remained firm in refusing to legalise dog racing multiple times in the last decade, and in 2023 both major parties in New Zealand vowed to ban greyhound racing during the leader’s election debate.
(2) That this House commends each and every one of the 111,155 people who took a stand against greyhound racing and signed The Blue Cross’ petition, and all those involved in organising and presenting the petition.
12 November 2024