Stonewall hosts panel at Labour Party Conference about "urgent need" to ban conversion practices in the UK

At the weekend, LGBTQ+ rights charity Stonewall hosted a panel with LGBT+ Labour at the Labour Party Conference about the "urgent need" to #BanConversionPractices, something the Government has "repeatedly promised to deliver". Stonewall CEO Simon Blake was joined by Olivia Bailey MP, Minister for Equalities; Rachel Taylor MP; Paul Martin, LGBT Foundation CEO; and Joe Dharampal-Hornby, Co-Chair of LGBT+ Labour.

As of September 2025, the UK remains without a formal legislative ban on so-called 'conversion therapy', despite repeated pledges from successive governments and mounting pressure from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and mental health professionals.

The current Labour government, elected in 2024, promised a “full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices” in its manifesto. This commitment was reaffirmed in the King’s Speech in July 2024, which outlined plans for a Draft Conversion Practices Bill. However, more than a year into Labour’s term, no draft legislation has been published, and no clear timeline has been provided for its introduction.

Stonewall said on social media: "Nearly one in six (16%) LGBTQ+ young people reported being threatened with or subjected to conversion practices. Countries like Spain, Cyprus, and Norway have already banned them. It’s time the UK did too.

"Each day without a ban puts LGBTQ+ people at risk, we’re campaigning for the Government to publish a draft Bill and put an end to these practices. Join us, support our campaign to #BanConversionPractices."