Green Party may ban horse and greyhound racing

Speaking ahead of the party’s manifesto launch today, national party leader Natalie Bennett said they would have a “complete review” of all horse and greyhound racing in the UK.

She did not rule out the possibility of a complete ban.

The horse racing industry alone is worth £3.4 billion to the economy and provides 17,000 full-time jobs and boasts hundreds of years of history and prestige.

One of the heartlands for British racing is Sussex, with the county a popular place for both stables and racecourses.

If the Greens did get into power on May 7 it would spell trouble for hundreds of people employed at Brighton, Fontwell and Goodwood racecourses– not forgetting the staff who are currently working at the Coral greyhound stadium in Hove.

Bennett said on the Andrew Marr show on Sunday: “What we want to do is a whole range of issues dealing with animal protection. I can give you an exclusive preview of our manifesto which says we want a complete review of all horse and greyhound racing.

“There’s a whole range of broader issues around animal protection here that we really need to talk about.”

Nine million people tuned in to watch Saturday’s Grand National, which was won by Pulborough jockey Leighton Aspell and his mount Many Clouds. But Bennett was not one of them.

She said: “I confess I wasn’t watching. I didn’t know anything about it.”

As well as looking to “end the exploitation” of animals in horse racing, greyhound racing and all situations where animals are commercially raced, the Greens pledge to impose a “high level of compulsory levy” on all betting, which would then be used solely for welfare improvements.

Speaking yesterday a party spokeswoman said they did not have a policy to ban racing outright. But she added there were “serious welfare issues that must be addressed”.

She said the party would “carry out a review of the wider welfare issues and would put in place a regulatory authority that had the welfare of the horses as its primary objective”.

Among the other policies expected in their manifesto today focus on immigration, health and the economy.

They propose to remove restrictions on foreign students and abolish family migration rules requiring citizens to have a minimum income for their spouse to come and join them in the UK.

They want a fully publicly-funded NHS free at the point of use and an end to privatisation of the NHS.

Meanwhile with the economy they propose to increase minimum wage to £10 per hour by 2020, ban zero-hours contracts and introduce a maximum 35-hour working week.

With transport they want to renationalise the rail system, introduce an immediate cut of 10% to public transport fares and scrap the High Speed 2 rail project.

Workers react to ‘outrageous’ scheme that would cost thousands of jobs

AT RACING stables across Sussex yesterday the proposal was met with anger and frustration.

The county is home to some of the finest stables in the country as well as some of the finest jockeys – not least Saturday’s Grand National winner Leighton Aspell from Pulborough.

Lewes trainer Jim Best, who has been involved in racing for more than 20 years and employs nearly a dozen people at his yard, said the idea of potentially making widespread changes to racing was “outrageous”.

He said: “I don’t know what planet Natalie Bennett is on but wherever it is I don’t want a ticket to it.

“People have been involved in racing for years and years. We love our horses, we take good care of them and we are dedicated to their welfare.

“Tens of thousands of people in the UK are employed thanks to the racing industry and it brings in billions for the economy. I think if they ever got into power and proposed something like a ban, then there would be a massive uproar from owners, trainers, jockeys, stable staff and fans everywhere.

“To be honest it’s an outrageous idea and it’s so silly I wouldn’t take any notice of it.”

Jobs would also be lost outside racing yards if a ban ever came into force. Arena Racing Company, which owns Fontwell and Brighton race tracks along with dozens of others across the UK, employs more than 500 permanent staff. They also employ about 3,500 temporary staff each year. Of those about 25 permanent staff work at Fontwell and 20 at Brighton.

A further estimated 50 dedicated horseracing staff are employed at the scenic Goodwood racecourse near Chichester while at least 200 people work at the Coral greyhound stadium in Hove.

Simon Clare, from Coral, owners of the stadium in Neville Avenue, said: “Fortunately the Green Party are going to get no closer to governing this country than I am, and nonsense policies like this demonstrate why they can’t be taken in any way seriously.

“I am happy to bet hard cash that the sports of horseracing and greyhound racing will both still be around long after Natalie Bennett’s political career has ended, and therefore won’t waste any more words on the Green Party manifesto.”

The British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) responded to the Green Party manifesto with more restraint.

The game’s governing body said it welcomed their scrutiny of racing’s equine welfare policies, adding it “would be happy to demonstrate the high welfare standards that exist within British racing”.

The BHA’s Robin Mounsey said: “Among an equine population estimated to be around one million in Britain, racehorses are among the healthiest and best looked after 2% of horses in the country.

“British Racing is among the world’s best regulated animal activities and the welfare standards within British horseracing by far exceed those of animal welfare legislation.

“The BHA is the government-recognised body responsible for the regulation of horseracing. At its heart is the welfare of the sport’s participants. It works closely with the RSPCA and World Horse Welfare.”

The Greens’ stance on racing is an isolated one.

Earlier this year David Cameron described the British racing industry as a “massive success story” while, more scathingly, former Labour spin doctor Damian Mcbride said on Friday: “As we prepare for the Grand National this weekend, bear in mind that the Green Party manifesto pledges to ban the race, along with all other jump-racing and what they call ‘non-linear greyhound racing’.

“This is surely proof that they are Maoist infiltrators hell-bent on destroying the British way of life.”

Speaking yesterday, Ms Lucas, Green parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, said: “The important thing is to make sure that if racing is going ahead, we’re protecting the welfare of both animals and jockeys.

“We do want to ban the use of whips, and also have concerns around the way in which horses are bred specifically for racing.”