Ban on conversion therapy could be forced through Parliament by Tory rebels after it is left out of Rishi Sunak’s King’s Speech
by Martin Beckford, Daily Mail:
A contentious ban on conversion therapy could be forced through by rebel Tory MPs after it was one of many long-awaited proposals left out of Rishi Sunak‘s plans for the next year.
A law making it illegal to force someone to change their sexual orientation or gender identity was not included in yesterday’s King’s Speech, despite being promised by ministers for several years.
But some fear it could criminalise parents, teachers and doctors.
Its omission provoked anger from some Conservatives as well as opposition MPs, who vowed to join forces in an attempt to introduce the ban by tabling amendments to upcoming legislation and voting it through Parliament.
Backbench Conservative MP Elliot Colburn told the Mail: ‘The decision to not include conversion therapy in this King’s Speech was totally wrong, but it’s not over yet.
‘We now know there’s a Criminal Justice Bill coming and this is an opportunity to get this into law. We will use every possible mechanism in Parliament to deliver on our promise and finally end this heinous practice in the UK.’
Fellow Tory Alicia Kearns – who tried to introduce the ban in an amendment to another law this year – agreed: ‘There will now be more amendments.’
She had already angered Conservative colleagues who oppose the ban by suggesting they were bigots, telling LBC Radio: ‘I think the only people who have anything to fear from a ban on conversion therapy is those who are bigots.’
Ministers insisted the ban was still on the table, however.
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