GBGB hits back at ‘misleading’ debate figures

GBGB chairman Sir Philip Davies has called out ‘inaccurate and misleading’ claims made by Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis, in a recent parliamentary debate on the government’s welfare strategy for England.

The MP for Eastleigh took the chance to raise her concerns over greyhound racing during the debate, claiming that “Between 2017 and 2024, across the UK more than 4,000 greyhounds died or were put to sleep as a direct result of racing, and more than 35,000 injuries were recorded on UK tracks.”

In a letter in response, published in Jarvis’s local newspaper, the Southern Daily Echo, Davies said: “I am surprised and disappointed to see Liz Jarvis, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, quoting inaccurate and misleading claims about greyhound racing during a contribution to the Animal Welfare Strategy debate.

“Despite the Greyhound Board of Great Britain contacting her on several occasions to share our independently verified data and evidence which show high welfare standards across the licensed sport, it appears that Ms Jarvis continues to use sensationalised claims from animal rights organisations.

“In fact, the data Ms Jarvis cited in the debate attempts to inflate track fatalities in the sport by almost four times the true number.

“The fact that Ms Jarvis feels the need to repeatedly use dodgy statistics to make her case would indicate how weak she must know her argument is.

“Thankfully, the government is taking a sensible and evidence-led approach to this issue, but I am sure Ms Jarvis’ constituents will be concerned to see their MP making inaccurate claims in the House of Commons.”

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