The SNP has finally caved in and admitted defeat over the XL Bully debate, performing a humiliating U-turn and announcing a ban.
This afternoon, First Minister Humza Yousaf confirmed Scotland would replicate England’s ban on the dangerous breed following widespread concerns that owners of Bully XLs were dumping them in Scotland following the ban’s introduction south of the border.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions, Mr Yousaf the legislation will replicate that of England and Wales.
He said: “What has become clear in the last few weeks I’m afraid, is a flow of XL Bully dogs coming to Scotland, a number of people coming to Scotland to bring XL Bully dogs here to the country.
“As such, we will in essence replicate the legislation that is in England and Wales, here in Scotland.
“Because ultimately although we do have a very good system of dog control and notice schemes and we do take the approach of deed and not breed, we have to respond to the situation as it currently stands and therefore we will do what we need to do to ensure public safety.”
The U-turn has sparked confusion, however, given Mr Yousaf’s Community Safety minister shared a graphic in November saying “nope” to questions of whether the XL Bully is a dangerous breed.
Less than a week ago, Mr Yousaf said he did not think a ban on Bullies was “required”.
He said: “We are keeping the potential ban under review. We don’t think it is required but it is something we keep under continual review.”
Two weeks ago, the campaign group Bully Watch UK demanded the Scottish Government act quickly in light of the “unprecedented movement of XL Bullies to Scotland on an alarming scale”.
They warned that irresponsible owners and breeders were “dumping their stock” and there was “no shortage of Scottish households coming forward to take on these dogs”.
However they warned that the pubs being abandoned in Scotland were likely to have been kept confined for most of their lives and therefore have significant behavioural problems.
They concluded that without a ban, “someone is going to get seriously hurt in Scotland” as a result of the SNP’s “unbelievable decision to sit on [their] hands and do nothing”.
Mr Yousaf confirmed that further details about a Scottish ban will be given next week in the Scottish Parliament.
MORE TO COME…
