What does the pledge mean? 

Conversion therapy is an umbrella term which refers to interventions (ranging from physical violence to spiritual or talking therapy) which aim to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity, typically from minority sexual orientations or gender identities to heterosexual or cisgender, on the assumption that these identities are preferable to others.

Conversion therapy has been called “unethical and potentially harmful” by a consortium of UK health, mental health and psychotherapy organisations and charities, including NHS England. Some evidence links it to negative health outcomes for LGBT+ people. The government has described conversion practices as “abuse”.

Some types of conversion therapy may include practices or activities that are already illegal under existing legislation—such as assault, drug offences and harassment. 

In its manifesto, Labour pledged to “finally deliver a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, while protecting the freedom for people to explore their sexual orientation and gender identity”. Since 2018, successive governments have promised to outlaw conversion therapy, though not all of these proposals covered conversion practices related to gender identity, as Labour promised to include. 

The pledge refers to England and Wales, as criminal law is devolved in other UK nations. Separate proposed legislation in Northern Ireland would also criminalise conversion therapy practices if successfully introduced and passed by the devolved assembly. The Scottish government has said it favours working with the UK government on a ban, but that it would introduce its own legislation if necessary.

When we asked the Cabinet Office what was meant by a “full” ban, we were told that its “scope and remit” would be outlined in “due course”. Labour’s manifesto did not give a date by which the ban would be delivered.

While we don’t yet know the details of Labour’s bill, it’s worth noting proposals by previous governments prompted some concerns from stakeholders, including those who felt legislation of this nature, if poorly drafted, could inhibit religious freedoms, and those who felt the proposals did not go far enough to protect LGBT+ people.

What progress has been made?

We are currently rating this pledge as ‘in progress’, as work is ongoing to bring forward a draft bill, and the government has said it will be published in the current parliamentary session.

The commitment to bring forward a draft bill to ban conversion practices—the Draft Conversion Practices Bill—was included in the King’s Speech in July 2024, which set out the government’s legislative agenda and policy priorities for the coming months and current session of the parliament. 

Ministers have said this ban will “target acts of conversion practices that are not captured by existing legislation” but would not “cover legitimate psychological support, treatment, or non-directive counselling”.

During a House of Lords debate on the King’s Speech in July 2024, health minister Baroness Merron said the government “will consult all relevant groups” on the policy. In January 2025, Lord Collins of Highbury, a government equalities spokesperson, said the government “has and will continue to meet with numerous stakeholders representing a wide range of views as we develop this work”, and that this included organisations who both supported and were concerned by “the prospect of this legislation”.

Lord Collins also said the draft bill will: “respect the important role that religious leaders have in supporting those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity”. In March 2025, minister for equalities Dame Nia Griffith said the government remained committed to the ban and that a draft bill will be published “later this session”.

When we asked the government in April 2025 when the draft bill would be published, it confirmed it didn’t have a specific date for this but said that it would “share more information in due course”.