Campaigners have accused the government of not moving quickly enough towards banning LGBT+ “conversion therapy” in England and Wales.
MPs from across the political divide have called during a Westminster debate for the practice to be made against the law.
“Conversion therapy” refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, ranging from electric shock treatment to religious teaching and discussion.
Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch said the government was “committed” to “ending” it, and took the issue “very seriously”.
However, equality campaigners have and some MPs have accused the government of not acting quick enough.
The practice is already outlawed in Switzerland and parts of Australia, Canada and the US.
Former Scotland Secretary David Mundell – the Conservative Party’s first openly gay cabinet minister – said conversion therapy “could not be tolerated”.
He said the government had “given the impression of being tardy” and now was “the time to end that impression”.
Tory MP Elliot Colburn said: “With every day that passes, there is another person at risk at being subject to this degrading treatment and we risk losing even more lives of people who feel there is no other way out.”
Labour’s Angela Eagle called conversion therapy “medieval”, “degrading” and “dehumanising”.
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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