Former Shadow Environment Minister and EFRA Select Committee Member joins GBGB Board

Angela Smith

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain has today announced that Angela Smith is to join its Board as an Independent Director. The former Labour MP for Penistone and Stockbridge has a strong background in animal welfare, having served as Shadow Environment Minister and as a Senior Member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee.

Throughout her parliamentary career, which spanned from 2005 to 2019, Angela was heavily involved in animal welfare issues – whether this was holding Ministers and public bodies to account as part of the EFRA Select Committee or through her membership of various All Party Parliamentary Groups, including those on Animal Welfare, Conservation and Wildlife and Game and Wildlife Conservation.
As Shadow Environment Minister, Angela helped to develop the Labour Party’s policy around animal welfare and farming and built strong relationships with the major animal welfare charities. She was made an honorary life member of the British Veterinary Association in 2015.
Announcing her appointment, Jeremy Cooper, Chair of GBGB, said: “Having served as Shadow Environment Minister and on the EFRA Select Committee for a number of years, Angela is ideally placed to join our Board. As someone from outside the world of greyhound racing, she will bring a much-needed external perspective to our work and will ensure that we continue to operate as an objective and impartial governing body which puts the welfare of our greyhounds at the heart of all we do. I have no doubt that Angela will make an important contribution to our Board and I look forward to working with her.
“In strengthening our Board through Angela’s appointment and our forthcoming appointment of an independent Non Executive Veterinary Director, we are future proofing the governance of the sport for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Ensuring the voice of our sport is heard in the right places has never been more important and demonstrating the strength of our commitment to welfare and the successful outcomes it is producing will be incredibly important in the years ahead.”
Angela Smith said: “As a close observer of greyhound welfare, I have been very impressed by the significant improvements made within the sport over the past few years. The Greyhound Commitment is clearly having a positive impact and it is very encouraging to see standards improving so rapidly. The sport rightly prioritises greyhound welfare and it is pleasing to see the progress that has been achieved.
“This is a critical moment for many grass roots sports and organisations and it is no less so than for greyhound racing. In an era of increased public awareness and scrutiny, it is more important than ever that we demonstrate the very highest standards of welfare and I look forward to playing my part in helping to secure a bright and sustainable future for licensed greyhound racing.”