Maryon Wilson Park costs the Council £70000 I signed a petition to keep it open. The Mayor of Greenwich came to see our Panto. I mentioned it to him about how disgusting I thought it was and how small minded. He basically said it was nothing to do with him, but I wanted to vent my spleen.
“The Government of Wales” has today announced a total ban on greyhound racing. A really, really, really stupid idea, which just panders to a % of their core vote. I don’t want to get too political here, but working class Labour voters used to love a night out at the dogs, as do people like me.
Many a happy night spent under the lights at Walthamstow. Great atmosphere, a few beers, greasy nosh-up and a couple of winners from time to time. Fine memories.
It was not unknown for me to enjoy a few sherbets in the adjacent Charlie Chan's nightclub. Things could get messy with me in town. Those days are long gone (fifteen years dry).
The Welsh Government has announced that it intends to ban greyhound racing in Wales, some time between now and 2026, if it wins a vote on the subject in the Welsh Parliament. That is not the same as the Government announcing a total ban as you put it, which gives the erroneous impression that A) the ban comes into force immediately and B) the announcement is a dictat, like one of President Trump's Executive orders. No Party in the Welsh Parliament has opposed the move. Even the Conservatives are allowing their members a free vote when the matter comes up. Sounds like devolved democracy in action to me. Not what I would call bad news. There is apparently only one dog track remaining in Wales. Presumably because hosting greyhound racing is not commercially viable anymore. As in there are not enough paying customers who are willing to go and watch it. Sounds as though the sport is gradually coming to a natural end there anyway, as it is throughout the UK. PS: This is not intended as a political post. More an attempt to balance the representation of the subject by adding some more factual details.
It stands to reason that the so called Wales Govt is only able to legislate on Welsh matters. Greyhounds bred there will now race in England, at tracks like Swindon. It’s the thin end of the wedge. Another stupid PC decision. It’s got nothing to do with economic viability - race tracks are owned by bookmakers, who “provide” the sport in return for what is known as better shop fodder (ie it drives footfall). The average greyhound race is worth about £70 to the winner in prize money. As with smoking, vaping etc, it’s another sign of the traditional Labour Party abandoning its traditional working class base for the Woke PotPourri that now votes for it. Nobody is more against animal cruelty than me - I I abhor hate coursing and fox hunting. But 99.9 of greyhounds in training get treated like royalty by their owners and trainers, and there are numerous retirement schemes for ex racing dogs. My friend has one in Kent. This is a nasty, petty and Woke-driven decision the lefties will come to regret.
It always seems to be the same sections of society that “get things banned” that they enjoy. I used to live near to the Notting Hill Carnival. It’s a noisy, smelly, violent and dangerous disgrace, which I can assure you all local people in the area hate & dread. I personally had my property damaged a few years ago by a “reveller”. Let’s ban it
The dogs are treated fantastically well, and many generations of breeding have taught them to chase what is in effect a scented rag. What’s not acceptable ? I am genuinely perplexed.
Injuries, poor living conditions, lack of enriched socialisation. Dogs are discarded when they are too slow, old or injured then charities have to step into try to rehabilitate and rehome etc where this is not possible they are put down
I am not a big believer in banning per se. It didn’t go down too well during prohibition. It will drive dog racing underground without all the checks and safeguards that we have now. I am also up for legalising Cannabis with smoking allowed in coffee shops but not on the street. Also get the government to charge duty on the weed.
In my view banning something (making it illegal) is as much a statement of morality as it is a practical measure. You can measure the moral standards of a society based on what it makes illegal. I'm not sure it is a good thing to legalise something only because it being illegal has not stopped it from going on.
Personal morality has nothing to do with it. Members of Parliament are not elected to ban things that they don’t like.
