Senior Tories set to rebel and back Labour MP’s bid to outlaw ‘conversion therapy’ after Rishi Sunak drops plans to ban ‘abhorrent’ practice

Senior Tories are set to support a Labour MP’s bid to ban all forms of so-called conversion therapy, which seeks to suppress a person’s sexual or gender identity.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, is due to introduce draft legislation to the House of Commons tomorrow to outlaw the practice.

His Private Member’s Bill has attracted the backing from a group of 10 Conservative MPs.

They include Alicia Kearns, the chair of the Commons’ foreign affairs committee, and Caroline Nokes, the chair of the Commons’ women and equalities committee.

Mr Russell-Moyle’s attempt to introduce a ban on ‘conversion therapy’ comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dropped a Tory commitment to outlawing the practice.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, is due to introduce draft legislation to the House of Commons tomorrow to outlaw ‘conversion therapy’

His Private Member’s Bill has attracted the backing from a group of 10 Conservative MPs – including Alicia Kearns (left) and Caroline Nokes (right)

Mr Russell-Moyle’s attempt to introduce a ban on ‘conversion therapy’ comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dropped a Tory commitment to outlawing the practice

Both Theresa May and Boris Johnson pledged to ban ‘conversion therapy’ when they were in Downing Street.

But Mr Sunak controversially did not include the promise of a ban in the King’s Speech last month, which set out his Government’s new legislative agenda.

So-called conversion therapy is aimed at changing someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Bill to be introduced to the Commons by Mr Russell-Moyle, seen by ITV News, seeks to ‘prohibit practices whose predetermined purpose is to change or suppress a person’s sexuality, or change or suppress a person to or from being transgender.’ 

Mr Russell-Moyle said: ‘Some of the biggest social reforms in this country have happened via Private Members’ Bills.

‘I was overwhelmed with support from all sides of the House for this reform.

‘Too many have suffered for too long; we have a responsibility to ensure no one else must suffer from this practice.’

Ms Nokes noted how 13 countries have implemented nationwide conversion bans, adding: ‘We’ll be reflecting on those examples to make sure we get our ban right.

‘The Bill will contain the appropriate safeguards for legitimate forms of therapy, but trying to “cure” someone from being LGBT is abuse, and we must outlaw it.’

Private Member’s Bills are a Commons process that allows backbenchers to introduce a new law separate from the Government’s legislative agenda.

Mr Russell-Moyle came fifth in last month’s ballot to bring forward a Private Member’s Bill.

His proposed legislation is not expected to be voted on until March at the earliest, at which point the Government will have to decide how to instruct Tory MPs to vote.

Private Member’s Bills rarely become law without Government support.

Downing Street has argued it needs more time to work out a policy on the ‘complex’ area as they seek to avoid unintended consequences.

A Government spokesman said: ‘No one in this country should be harmed or harassed for who they are and attempts at so-called ‘conversion therapy’ are abhorrent.

‘That is why we are carefully considering this very complex issue.’

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