Green MP Condemns Labour's 'Class Prejudice' in Greyhound Racing Stance
Green Party MP Hannah Spencer has launched a scathing attack on Labour, accusing the party of "offensively caricaturing" working-class people by resisting calls to ban greyhound racing in England. Spencer, who represents Gorton and Denton and owns four rescue greyhounds, claims Labour is perpetuating harmful stereotypes by suggesting working-class communities do not support animal welfare measures.
'Continuously Offensive' Remarks from Ministers
Spencer specifically criticized Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who recently defended the gambling industry in Parliament, stating it "brings joy to a lot of people" and provides "positive benefits to the United Kingdom." Spencer responded vehemently: "Lisa Nandy just continuously offends people by saying that working-class people don't care about dogs or each other. It is a caricature and it is very offensive."
She elaborated further, expressing frustration at the narrative linking greyhound racing exclusively to working-class culture: "I get offended when I hear the argument made that it is working class. Working-class people are fed up with gambling companies being able to wreak havoc in people's lives."
Welfare Crisis and Political Hypocrisy
The debate intensifies against a backdrop of alarming welfare statistics. Between 2018 and 2023, official records show 2,700 greyhound deaths and more than 26,500 injuries in the sport. Many retired racing dogs end up in rescue centers, struggling to adapt to domestic life after years in kennels.
Spencer's personal experience fuels her activism. She campaigned to close the Belle Vue racetrack in Manchester, where one of her rescue dogs, Olive, previously raced. "When I got her, she was really broken," Spencer revealed, describing other greyhounds she has rehomed, including Judy, who spent a decade confined to a kennel for breeding, and Graham, who remained terrified of the outside world despite years of care.
The Green MP also highlighted Labour's financial ties to the gambling sector, which donated hundreds of thousands of pounds during the recent general election campaign. "That is what opened my eyes to Labour, how lobbied and biased they are," Spencer asserted. "Labour MPs will frequently accept really expensive hospitality packages from gambling companies. Why would they go for a jolly and go and see a concert at Wembley paid for by the misery of gambling addicts?"
Industry Defense and Broader Implications
Sources close to Nandy rejected claims that she believes working-class people are indifferent to animal welfare, reiterating Labour's position: "We have absolutely no plans whatsoever to ban greyhound racing. We appreciate the joy that it brings to many, many people in our country and the economic contribution that it makes."
Mark Moisley, commercial director of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, emphasized the sport's cultural and economic significance: "Greyhound racing is enshrined in British culture and contributes £164m a year to the economy, employs 5,400 people, and remains one of the top 10 spectator sports in the UK – and our priority is to ensure this continues, with the welfare of greyhounds at the heart of this."
Meanwhile, anti-gambling campaigner Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder of the Gamban app, supported Spencer's critique: "The gambling lobby in Westminster has had successive governments believing they somehow speak for the working class while their sector exploits and extracts from it. To make the assumption ordinary working people somehow don't care about the welfare of dogs is a form of class prejudice."
Expanding the Conversation to Horse Racing
Spencer also called for a broader discussion on animal sports, referencing recent horse deaths at the Grand National. "A conversation needs to be had about horse racing," she insisted. "We all saw those awful pictures of a horse that had been raced to death to make money for gambling companies. That conversation is coming. Those conversations are shifting. People are telling me they don't think horse racing is acceptable either."
This stance aligns with Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who has previously advocated for banning horse racing, though it drew criticism from some quarters. As the debate rages, Spencer's advocacy underscores deepening political divides over animal welfare, class representation, and the influence of the gambling industry in British politics.
