The new Labour government will introduce a draft bill to outlaw conversion practices, the King’s Speech at the state opening of Parliament has confirmed.
A ban on ‘conversion practices’ means it could become a crime to preach, pray, or give pastoral care in line with biblical sexual ethics. Parents’ and doctors’ conversations with gender confused youngsters could also be affected.
But the government has only committed to a ‘draft’ bill, which means there will be a public consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny which could reveal the many difficulties inherent in legislating in this area.
Before the election, Labour stated that such a ban would include transgenderism, so that it may become a crime not to affirm someone’s preferred gender identity.
Free speech safeguards have been promised, but Christian groups say the protections that have been suggested are nowhere near robust enough to defend freedom of expression and religious liberty.
Church leaders have written to the new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to warn him that religious illiteracy is breeding ‘unwarranted hostility’ toward those in Bible-believing churches.
ET staff writer
