Prime Minister shelves conversion therapy ban after MPs demand he scrap plans for long-promised manifesto pledge

• Some MPs feared a ban would criminalise adults giving gender identity advice 

A pledge to ban conversion therapy has been shelved after more than 40 Tory MPs wrote to the Prime Minister demanding he scrap plans for the long-promised law.

Rishi Sunak will not put the proposed Bill, which was a 2019 Conservative manifesto pledge, in next month’s King’s Speech. It could mean the legislation, first promised by Theresa May in 2018, fails to pass before the next general election.

The law would have banned institutions from offering conversion ‘therapy’ claiming to be able to stop people being gay or transgender – though some MPs feared that it may unintentionally criminalise parents or teachers giving gender identity advice to children.

A pledge to ban conversion therapy has been shelved after more than 40 Tory MPs wrote to the Prime Minister demanding he scrap plans for the long-promised law

Chief Whip Simon Hart is said to have warned of a major rebellion if plans were dropped, with Tory MPs backing a Labour amendment to the Bill

Last week it was reported that Mr Sunak would press ahead with the delayed plans, but he has been met with a furious backlash from the Right of his party. 

It is now likely that he will instead publish a draft Bill which he will consult MPs on, according to The Sun on Sunday.

A senior government source said: ‘There is no way conversion therapy is becoming law before the election.’

Tory MP Miriam Cates, who spearheaded the revolt, said: ‘The idea that people could be criminalised for telling their child ‘you are a girl and it is not good to go on puberty blockers’ is very dangerous.’

Last week Mr Sunak revived the legislation, prompting MPs in the New Conservative group and the Common Sense Group to sign the letter opposing it.

Chief Whip Simon Hart is said to have warned of a major rebellion if plans were dropped, with Tory MPs backing a Labour amendment to the Bill.

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