Labour told to ban dogs from parts of UK to rid country of racism

has been urged to create in certain areas of as part of anti-racist measures.

The suggestion was made in a report to the Welsh government, aimed at making "all areas" of public life more inclusive and eliminating racism by 2030. It has since been slammed by the Welsh as "outdated virtue signalling nonsense."

The report, put together by , suggested setting up "dog-free areas in local green spaces" as a way to help achieve these goals.

The proposal is part of a broader set of recommendations but does not clarify how dog-free zones would help address racism.

The Welsh Conservatives said it fails to address the real needs of Welsh communities, The Telegraph reports.

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Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, called the proposals "completely out of touch" and said Labour is "stuck on yesterday's thinking".

He said: "This kind of outdated virtue signalling nonsense is completely out of touch with the needs of the people of Wales.

"Labour is stuck on yesterday's thinking, the kind that is being roundly rejected globally. Time to turf them out."

In addition to Climate Cymru BAME, the North Wales Africa Society also called for dog-free areas, claiming that some ethnic minority residents feel uneasy around dogs.

During focus group sessions, one Black African woman reportedly expressed feeling unsafe in areas with dogs.

The report also mentioned concerns over dog fouling, which some residents say makes green spaces less inviting.

The report was commissioned as part of the Welsh government's Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which aims to tackle racial inequalities by creating more welcoming public spaces.

The report also identified other barriers to enjoying outdoor spaces, such as the lack of public transport to rural areas, poor air quality in cities, and perceptions that gardening and allotment spaces are dominated by "middle-aged white women."

Other comments from ethnic minority participants included feeling apprehensive about visiting the countryside due to their racial or religious identity.

Some participants said they sensed a lack of understanding from local communities, particularly in rural areas, based on personal experiences.

In response to these findings, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We are committed to creating an anti-racist nation by 2030. Our Anti-racist Wales Action Plan is built on the values of anti-racism and calls for zero tolerance of all racial inequality."