Conversion therapy: Government plans for ban scrapped

Plans to ban so-called conversion therapy in England and Wales have been abandoned by the government.

According to NHS England, conversion therapy tries to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.

The ban was announced in the Queen's Speech in May 2021.

But a government spokesperson said it had instead "decided to proceed by reviewing how existing law can be deployed more effectively".

It would also explore "other non-legislative measures" to prevent conversion therapy, they added.

But Labour's Anneliese Dodds tweeted that it was an "outrageous decision".

"A government that believes conversion therapy is acceptable in 21st century Britain is no friend of the LGBT+ community," the shadow women and equalities secretary said.

And Liberal Democrat equalities spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said it was "giving the green light to a form of torture in the UK".

"This is an utter betrayal of the LGBT+ community."

By Josh Parry, LGBT producer

The mood music amongst the LGBT+ community is one of shock, but not necessarily surprise.

Ever since plans to ban conversion therapy practices were announced in 2018, there have been several delays; a number of consultations and a lot of public debate.

It comes at a particularly embarrassing time for Number 10.

Just weeks ago the Council of Europe raised grave concerns about the UK's direction of travel on LGBT+ rights and this summer the government is going to host its first ever international LGBT+ conference.

U-turning on this issue is due to leave a dark cloud hanging over them when it's likely to be attended by nations who outlawed conversion years ago.

The leaked document supposedly predicts a "noisy backlash from LGBT groups and some parliamentarians" - but if the immediate reaction is anything to go by, that's quite the understatement.