No firm timeline for conversion therapy ban

No firm timescale has been provided by UK ministers for a law banning conversion therapy after months of deliberation about the policy.

UK Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch was asked about the plans last week and said they would be coming "in due course".

But she said the bill is subject to pre-legislative scrutiny, which is "no longer in control of government in terms of the timetable".

A ban was originally meant to cover sexuality and gender identity but the government rowed back on the latter last year.

Some MPs had raised concerns that a ban covering gender identity could prevent parents counselling their children on trans issues.

Christian groups have also raised concerns that biblical teaching on sexuality and biological sex could fall foul of an over-broad law.

Legal advice published last year said a ban based on similar legislation overseas could affect the ordinary work of Christian churches.

The advice, from Jason Coppel KC, said Australian-style legislation would “prohibit actions in a range of commonplace situations".

“[Any] prohibition of conversion therapy going beyond the existing criminal law raises serious issues of compatibility with Convention rights", the KC said.

“The definition of conversion therapy to which any such prohibition is to apply must be carefully circumscribed if it is not to infringe the Convention rights of Christians".