Overview
- The Labour government's draft Conversion Practices Bill, published this week, aims to criminalise specific abusive attempts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and is now under pre‑legislative scrutiny by MPs and peers.
- Witnesses who gave evidence on Nov 6–7 included a whistleblower who warned the bill could have been used to silence critics of the NHS gender clinic and faith leaders who said prayer and pastoral care must not be made illegal.
- Campaigners and survivor advocates told the committee the draft should explicitly cover directed prayer and other covert practices that victims describe as conversion abuse.
- Ministers say the bill sets high legal thresholds to protect freedom of expression and parental conversations, but analysts and some MPs warn the wording could expose parents, company directors and organisations to prosecution and create major implementation costs.
- The committee stage will determine amendments on key points—how the law defines 'abusive' conduct, whether an offence of omission applies to organisations, and what carve‑outs or clarifications are needed to protect legitimate pastoral, clinical and family dialogue.