The failure of the Government to deliver on its previously-promised pledge to ban conversion therapy has been branded “an act of frightful negligence”.
Campaigners had been hoping to hear mention of a Bill on the matter in the King’s Speech.
The ban was first promised by Theresa May’s government in 2018, before it was downgraded to not include transgender people by Boris Johnson.
Rishi Sunak’s Government said in January it would ban conversion therapy for “everyone”, including transgender people.
But while describing the practice as “abhorrent”, the Government has previously added that it is still “carefully considering this very complex issue”.
Following the King’s Speech, which made no mention of such a Bill, LGBTQ+ group Stonewall said those affected by conversion therapy practices “deserve better”.
Robbie de Santos, director of external affairs at Stonewall, said: “The UK Government’s failure to deliver a ban on conversion practices after five years of promises is an act of frightful negligence – in doing so, it has given the green light for the abuse against LGBTQ+ people to continue unchecked.
“Rather than getting mired in a cynical cultural war, the UK Government should be making decisions based on what the evidence and expertise said.
“England and Wales’ 1.5 million LGBTQ+ people, and their families, deserve better.”
Conversion therapy practices seek to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Labour has pledged to introduce a “no loopholes” trans-inclusive ban on conversion therapy if elected.
