The UK’s betting and racing industries are united in grief following the sudden passing of Lord David Lipsey – a towering figure whose passion, intellect, and dedication shaped decades of public debate and earned him a place of enduring respect across politics, journalism, and sport.
Lord Lipsey died aged 77 after getting into difficulty while swimming in the River Wye in Wales.
News of his death has reverberated throughout the communities he served with such distinction – not least in the world of greyhound racing, where he was widely regarded as the sport’s greatest political ally and most passionate patron.
Remarkable career
A Labour life peer with a remarkable career in public service, Lord Lipsey held advisory roles under Prime Minister James Callaghan and went on to become a prominent commentator, penning incisive columns for The Sunday Times, The Economist, and The Guardian.
He is also credited with coining the term “New Labour”, a phrase that came to define an era of political change under Tony Blair.
But beyond Westminster and Fleet Street, it was on the terraces of greyhound stadiums and in the boardrooms of racing organisations where Lord Lipsey left one of his most personal and lasting marks.
A lifelong supporter of the sport, he served as Chair of the British Greyhound Racing Board (now the Greyhound Board of Great Britain) from 2004 to 2009, and remained deeply involved in its modern evolution long after.
Profile elevation
In his later years, he helped found Premier Greyhound Racing (PGR), a media and entertainment platform designed to elevate the profile of the sport.
As PGR Chair until 2024, he was tireless in championing greater visibility and coverage for greyhound racing.
Speaking to SBC News in 2023, he declared: “We are determined to take the sport out of the greyhound section and into the front pages.”
Those who worked with Lord Lipsey speak of a man whose devotion to greyhound racing was both heartfelt and infectious.
“David had a great love for the greyhound, and for greyhound racing as a whole,” said Garry Nash, Managing Director of PGR.
“It all began with a visit to the track and grew into a lifetime of support, including owning his own greyhound. His enthusiasm touched everyone who met him.
“He brought wisdom, professionalism and warmth to every room he entered – always guided by principle, never by ego.
“His contributions to PGR – and to the sport at large – were immeasurable.
“We were privileged to have him as Chair, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his beloved wife Margaret and all his family.”
A steady hand in a divisive era
In addition to his work in racing, Lord Lipsey was an eloquent and reasoned voice throughout the UK’s complex and often contentious review of gambling legislation.
As debate swirled around the long-awaited reform of the 2005 Gambling Act, he stood apart as a figure of integrity, bringing balance, compassion, and clarity to discussions that too often lacked them.
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), which represents regulated UK operators, hailed Lord Lipsey as “a prominent and respected voice in debates on gambling reform”, whose contributions were guided by “insight, balance and intellectual rigour.”
Grainne Hurst, CEO of the BGC, paid an emotional tribute, saying: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Lord Lipsey’s passing.
“He was a man of enormous integrity and wisdom, whose words carried weight because they were always grounded in care – for the industry, for its people, and for the wider public.
“His love for greyhound racing, and his dedication to upholding the highest standards of animal welfare, set an example for us all.
“His approach to public policy – rooted in fairness, research and common sense – is exactly what our industry needs more of. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.”
