Greyhound trainers, kennel staff and track workers gathered outside Downing Street with their dogs, calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to scrap a planned betting tax increase they warn could cost 7,000 jobs in struggling communities.
The protest, which took place in Westminster, saw the group demand that Mr Burnham equalise the tax on dog betting with the levy applied to horse racing. They argue this would help an industry already hit by track closures caused by rising running costs.
Tax hike threatens jobs and economy
Campaigners warn that unless the tax rate is reduced to 15% – matching the levy on horse racing bets – the industry will face further strain. The planned increase, announced by Rachel Reeves in the Budget and due to come into force next April, threatens 7,000 jobs in some of England's most deprived communities.
The rise also risks the £160 million greyhound racing contributes to the economy and the £50 million it already pays in tax each year. HMRC and the Treasury do not routinely comment on such matters ahead of Budgets, but it has been reported that Mr Burnham is considering the charge.
Workers appeal for fairness
In an open letter sent to No 10, workers wrote: "We are trainers and kennel staff, track workers and caterers, bookmakers and stadium employees, vets and veterinary nurses, drivers, maintenance teams and suppliers. We represent communities across Britain where greyhound racing has been part of local life for generations."
The letter added: "For some of us, the sport has helped us join Britain's workforce by offering a range of entry-level jobs, the kind which are becoming increasingly challenging to find, allowing us to develop the skills to contribute to this country's success and productivity for many years to come."
It continued: "The margins on which many tracks operate are already tight. Further financial pressure risks reducing investment, closing tracks and ultimately putting jobs at risk. Safeguard the future of the sport, the jobs and the communities that depend on it."
MPs back tax parity campaign
Andrew Rosindell, the Reform UK MP for Romford – which has a track – said: "Romford has the last greyhound track left in the Greater London region and the Budget next Wednesday could spell the end of this great local tradition."
He added: "Due to excessive taxation and regulation, the sport is in jeopardy. If the Government's plan to apply a 25% duty to online bets from 2027 onwards goes ahead, it could kill off greyhound racing in Britain for good. Horse racing was protected and left at 15%, but greyhound racing was not. If the duty hike goes ahead, the Treasury will only raise a modest sum on a small and struggling sport, whilst putting people out of work and destroying a traditional pastime woven into the fabric of local community, here in Romford and in many parts of England."
Kevin McKenna, Labour MP for Sittingbourne – which houses Central Park stadium – told the Daily Express: "Greyhound racing is an important part of the Sittingbourne community. Our local greyhound track, Central Park, supports jobs and livelihoods and is a sport that is valued by many people across our area. We must recognise the contribution it makes to our local economy and the people whose livelihoods depend on its future."
He continued: "I support the Greyhound Board of Great Britain's campaign for tax parity with horse racing because it is right that the Government takes into account the different financial circumstances of the two sports. Greyhound racing operates on a much smaller financial scale than horse racing, with many tracks working on tight margins, yet it faces a significant increase in betting duty while horse racing is treated differently. I want to see a fair approach that recognises the importance of greyhound racing, protects jobs and supports the long-term future of tracks such as Central Park. It is a sport with real community value, and I will continue to support efforts to secure a fairer tax arrangement for the industry."
Mark Bird, chief executive of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said: "The sport is rooted in Britain's history, sustains thousands of jobs and provides cheap nights out in hard-up communities. The Government has already excluded UK horse racing from the tax rise, rightly recognising that taxing bets on domestic racing would undermine the funding model of a sport which supports jobs and communities. This is a simple request for fairness, treating dog racing the same way and recognising its value and importance in working-class communities."
