Policy Exchange report calls draft Conversion Practices Bill unworkable; Government rejects it

Right · 2Policy Exchange, a think tank, has published a report on the Government's draft Conversion Practices Bill, which it describes as "ideological, authoritarian and unworkable" and "wholly unsuitable" for a democratic and pluralistic society. 1 2 Right · 2The report's author is the barrister Akua Reindorf KC, and Baroness Kishwer Falkner, a Policy Exchange Distinguished Fellow and former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, is also named in the coverage. Sharron Davies, the former Olympic swimmer and campaigner, endorsed the findings. 1 2 Right · 1The Bill aims to outlaw abusive attempts to change someone's sexuality or gender identity, with offenders facing up to five years in prison. 1

Right · 2The authors argue that parents could face up to five years in jail for refusing to finance a child's gender reassignment, or for trying "in good faith and with love and care" to stop a transition they fear could harm the child. 1 2 Right · 1GB News adds that, according to the report, complaints against parents could trigger safeguarding investigations even without criminal charges, and potentially child protection plans or care proceedings. It also notes that simply disagreeing with a child would not be a crime, and that prosecutors would have to prove abusive conduct intended to change someone's sexuality or transgender identity. 1 Right · 2The report also says that, because there is no minimum age for prosecution, primary school children could be liable for comments or questions made about classmates "without malice or harmful intent". 2 1

Right · 1According to the Daily Mail, the report says the Bill's definition of transgender identity, which includes people who identify as "neither male nor female or as not solely male or female", is so broad that it could cover "catgender" people. It says a person "may face imprisonment for trying to persuade another that they are not, in fact, a cat". 2 Right · 1The Daily Mail also reports that the study says the Bill breaches the right to a fair trial, would allow private prosecutions by activists, and rests on prevalence figures, such as a survey suggesting 30 per cent of transgender people had undergone exorcism, that it calls "wildly improbable". It notes that practices such as electric shock therapy and "corrective rape" are already unlawful. 2 Right · 2Falkner said the draft Bill "appears oblivious to human rights law in Britain" and would be unworkable unless considerably revised and put to a full public consultation. Davies wrote that the Bill risks gender self-identification "by the back door". 2 1

Right · 1A Government spokesman said the report was "misleading and based on a number of inaccurate claims" and that the Bill targets a specific form of abuse and "does not touch regular parenting". Unnamed sources called the claim about cats "nonsense" and said the Bill defines no new genders in law. 2 Right · 1Equalities minister Simon Lightwood said in a parliamentary answer on 29 October that the Bill "will not prevent parents from making choices on how to raise their children". Ministers say it is meant to close gaps in existing law, particularly around psychological abuse. The draft Bill is undergoing parliamentary scrutiny and is not yet law. 1