Draft Conversion Practices Bill: critics warn of risk to parents and company directors

Right · 1The Daily Mail reported on 5 November that company bosses face the threat of prosecution under Labour's draft Conversion Practices Bill, alongside parents, according to campaigners. 1 Right · 1The draft bill allows firms and other organisations to be prosecuted over abusive attempts to change someone's sexuality or gender identity. If a company is found guilty, directors would be personally liable if they failed to 'take all reasonable steps to prevent the commission of the offence'. 1 Right · 1Lawyer Dennis Kavanagh, a director of the Gay Men's Network, said a standard workplace dispute over pronouns could become a prosecution of the company, and Sex Matters' Helen Joyce said every organisation 'should be terrified' of the bill. 1

Right · 1The Government said misgendering would not constitute an abusive conversion practice. A spokesman said it was 'completely untrue that this Bill will burden businesses' unless they push abusive conversion practices. 1 Right · 1Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson denied that the law would criminalise parents who tell their children they cannot change sex. She told BBC 5Live that a 'very high legal threshold' was being set, covering pressure to change, abuse and the harm caused. 1 Right · 1In a Daily Mail opinion column, Andrew Doyle argued that the bill's wording, including 'controlling or coercive words or behaviour' and 'psychological or emotional pressure', could capture ordinary parenting. He noted that the proposed offence carries up to five years in prison. 2

Right · 1Doyle cited a report by Akua Reindorf KC and Baroness Falkner and said the Government-backed helpline received only 29 reports of conversion practices over three years. He listed Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Sharron Davies and JK Rowling among opponents of the bill. 2 Right · 1GB News reported on 8 November that Labour MPs had 'revolted' against the bill, citing the Telegraph. It said a group of Labour MPs and peers are scrutinising the draft and could request amendments after hearing from witnesses. 3 Right · 1Mansfield MP Steve Yemm said he backs banning 'abusive and coercive conversion practices' but is sceptical and wants parents, teachers and clinicians to be able to talk openly with questioning children. Graham Stringer said he would currently vote against the bill, calling it a 'huge intrusion into family life'. Mary Glindon warned parents could be 'criminally liable' for cautionary advice. 3

Right · 1GB News also cited Policy Exchange analysis concluding the bill could 'criminalise parents who seek to dissuade children from transitioning', and Sex Matters chief executive Maya Forstater, who called it 'destructive and ill-conceived'. 3 Right · 1A Labour source said all Labour MPs stood on a manifesto commitment to ban abusive conversion practices. A Government spokesman said parents 'will not be criminalised for questioning a child's decisions about their identity alone' and that ministers await the recommendations of the independent parliamentary committee. 3