Thank you to everyone who’s been in touch in recent days about conversion therapy, and the debate taking place in Parliament about it today.
I completely share your concerns and agree that this abhorrent practice has no place in our country. That is why it is so disappointing that despite the UK Government committing to put an end to conversion therapy in 2018, legislation has still not been introduced.
In 2018, I was a sponsor to a Bill brought before Parliament that would have outlawed conversion therapy. It would have made the Health and Care Professions Council, the regulatory body for all counsellors and psychotherapists; would have prohibited conversion therapy; with specific provisions protecting both children and adults. Unfortunately, it did not become law because it did not proceed far enough through the parliamentary process before the December 2019 General Election, so it then fell way.
If you wanted to read the Bill, you can do so here:-
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0252/180252.pdf
Labour has consistently urged the UK Government to live up to their promise and implement their 2018 proposals. My Shadow Cabinet colleague, Marsha De Cordova MP, who leads on equalities for the Labour Party, has continuously pressed the UK Government to bring forward legislation and to deliver on its LGBT action plan.
Please be assured that we will continue to hold the UK Government to account on this important issue. It’s time the Government stopped dragging their feet on this issue and finally act to outlaw it.
