Starmer commits to ‘all-encompassing conversion therapy law’

Labour will introduce sweeping legislation on ‘conversion therapy’ if elected, Keir Starmer has promised.

Speaking at an event in Parliament to mark ‘LGBT+ History Month’, Sir Keir said a Labour Government would ban “all forms of conversion therapy”.

The Government has pledged to bring forward a draft Bill despite opposition from top lawyers and some within Conservative Party ranks concerned it would criminalise parents who steer their gender-confused children away from puberty blockers, and church leaders who uphold biblical sexual ethics.

‘Trans-inclusive’

Alongside promising a “full, trans-inclusive ban”, Starmer told the reception organised by LGBT+ Labour: “We fully support the view that conversion therapy is psychologically damaging abuse.”

According to DIVA magazine, the Labour Leader accused the Government of putting “vulnerable people in danger” by failing to introduce a new law on so-called conversion therapy.

The Labour leader also pledged to “modernise the Gender Recognition Act” and “strengthen the law, so every category of hate crime is treated as an aggravated offence”.

@LGBTLabour LGBT+HM reception with @Keir_Starmer Annaliese Dodds @AshleyDalton_MP Positive messages about what Labour would do for LGBTQ+ equality including an inclusive ban on conversion practices, GRA reform, better hate crime protections & reducing health inequalities @LGBTfdn pic.twitter.com/t3ylMt6cX3

— Dr Paul Martin OBE 🧜‍♂️🏳️‍🌈 (@PaulMartinOBE) January 29, 2024

Legal action

Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Burt has presented a Private Members’ Bill (PMB) on ‘conversion practices’ to the House of Lords.

In a legal opinion for The Christian Institute, top human rights lawyer Jason Coppel KC says the Bill is likely to cut across key parental, religious, and free speech rights.

Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has presented his own PMB to the House of Commons.

Single-sex wards

Meanwhile, Labour’s health spokesman Wes Streeting was accused by party trans-activist Alexis Chilvers of being a “transphobe” after he backed single-sex hospital wards.

The same night Sir Keir made his remarks, Mr Streeting told Sky News that Labour would increase funding for single-sex wards.

He said: “This has got to be a priority as it concerns patient safety and it should not be beyond the realms of possibility to have wards for women, wards for men, and also suitable, safe accommodation for trans people.”

Chilvers, founder of Labour for Trans Rights, responded: “He’s a transphobe and we don’t want him anywhere near us.”