James Evans MS has said the High Court’s decision to allow the Greyhound Board of Great Britain’s (GBGB) judicial review to proceed “exposes the deeply flawed and politically driven process behind Wales’ greyhound racing ban”.
The High Court has granted permission for a full hearing after GBGB argued that Welsh Government Ministers failed to follow proper procedure when announcing a ban on greyhound racing earlier this year. The ban formed part of a political deal between Labour Ministers and the sole Liberal Democrat MS, Jane Dodds, in exchange for her abstention on the vote to pass the Welsh Government’s 2025/26 Budget.
James has repeatedly opposed the ban, saying it was pushed through without proper evidence, consultation, or consideration of the real welfare standards within the sport.
James Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Brecon & Radnorshire, said:
“This decision confirms what many of us have been saying for months: the greyhound racing ban was rushed, politicised and completely unsupported by a fair or evidence-based process.
“Welsh Ministers agreed to ban a century-old sport to secure the support of one MS for their Budget. It was a political trade-off dressed up as animal welfare, and today’s ruling shows that process simply doesn’t stack up.
“Greyhound owners, trainers and volunteers care deeply about their animals. Instead of working with the sector to strengthen welfare standards, Welsh Government chose to chase headlines and satisfy the demands of the sole Liberal Democrat MS seeking a deal.
“I welcome the High Court’s decision to allow this challenge to proceed. It is right that the legality, fairness and integrity of this ban are properly tested. Wales deserves better than policy-making by backroom agreement.”
