Humza Yousaf reveals Scottish ban on XL bully dogs

       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 that Scotland will 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 Holyrood, Mr Yousaf the legislation will replicate England and Wales’.

       “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.

       READ MORE: Banning the dangerous American XL Bully Dog is the right thing to do

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       Mr Yousaf finally caved into pressure this afternoon (Image: Getty)

       "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”.

       "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”.

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       Irresponsible owners have been dumping Bully XLs in Scotland since England introduced a ban (Image: Getty)

       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.

       The 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.

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       The Scottish Tories are now slamming the First Minister for the turgid speed of his decision.

       MSP Stephen Kerr said Scotland has gone “from Nicola Sturgeon’s frantic rush to be able to announce a policy change ahead of the UK Government, regardless of content, to Humza’s languid ‘If I must’ weeks after it was clear action was needed”.

       Mr Kerr demanded to now what had changed the SNP’s mind on the ban, given they previously said they were waiting for further information before following Rishi Sunak’s lead.

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