Sunak Government Drops Conversion Therapy Ban from King's Speech
Despite promises from every Conservative Prime Minister since 2018, the conversion therapy ban was confirmed absent from the King's Speech — the first in 70 years. Ministers concluded the ban was 'too difficult and complex to legislate' after intense lobbying from anti-trans MPs who organised over 40 Conservatives in opposition. Campaign groups accused the government of betrayal, with one senior source admitting there was 'no way conversion therapy is becoming law before the election.'
Impact & Significance
The third broken promise on conversion therapy made it a key election issue, directly leading to Labour's manifesto commitment to introduce a comprehensive ban covering both sexual orientation and gender identity.
Reference Record
- Date
- 7 November 2023
- Era
- 2020-present
- Sources
- 2
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