Labour MPs and other politicians have raised concern that the Government’s plans to ban ‘conversion therapy’ would have a “chilling effect” on ordinary conversations.
The Daily Telegraph reported that at least a dozen Labour MPs have warned their party about the draft Conversion Practices Bill progressing through Parliament, with one branding it “an attack on parents”.
Under the proposed legislation, a person could face up to five years in prison for expressing “emotional pressure” that causes a person to believe they do or do not have a particular “identity” or “sexual orientation”.
Labour MP Graham Stringer, who represents Blackley and Middleton South, said the legislation “seems like a huge intrusion into family life. It seems to be an attack on parents.”
The Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, Mary Glindon, noted: “The expert evidence has been clear: the drafting of this bill could result in parents, faith leaders, teachers and counsellors being unfairly restricted or even punished for raising concerns or questions about a young person’s decision to transition”.
Steve Yemm, the Labour MP for Mansfield, said “we must ensure that parents, teachers and clinicians can have open and honest conversations with young people questioning their gender, without fear of criminalisation”.
Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi added: “I would urge the Prime Minister to step in and scrap this bill.”
Labour Peer Lord Glasman stated: “Putting parents at risk of prosecution for trying to protect their children is something no Labour government should even consider.”
Baroness Hayter, also a Labour Peer, explained that “a bill which could criminalise parents, siblings, therapists or churches for normal discussions and guidance would be dangerous and undesirable”.
She added: “There may never be an actual prosecution, but the threat of that or even reporting to the police would have a chilling effect on the most ordinary or loving conversations.”
Former Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill remarked: “It would be wrong if a bill created to protect vulnerable people would overreach into potentially causing unnecessary censorship of important and loving conversations within families.”
Kemi Badenoch has also criticised the conversion therapy Bill, calling it “a waste of time” as abusive practices are already covered by existing law.
The Leader of the Opposition explained that she found the Bill “unworkable” when she examined it as Equalities Minister.
She called it “another pretend bit of legislation that’s going to confuse and complicate and mean that we lose common sense”, exclaiming: “This is something that’s going to mean that parents start getting arrested for parenting their children.”
In 2025, the Institute published a booklet titled ‘Proving Tricky’ outlining numerous jurisdictions that have previously tried and failed to introduce similar legislation due to an inevitable encroachment on fundamental rights.
Activists routinely conflate abuses that are criminal under existing law with legitimate, everyday activities which cannot be criminalised, such as conversations between parents and children about sexuality or gender identity. It has proven extremely difficult.
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