King Charles III officially opened the new session of parliament on Tuesday, setting out the government's planned programme of new laws.
His Majesty outlined 40 new draft laws which Sir Keir Starmer says will 'take the brakes off Britain'.
Among them was proposed legislation for a ‘no loopholes’ fully inclusive ban on conversion therapy.
The move comes amid fears that the law risks criminalising concerned parents and Christian practices, such as prayer.
The proposed ban was initially raised under the previous Conservative government, who faced criticism for not bringing the legislation forward.
Ciaran Kelly, Deputy Director for the Christian Institute told Premier Christian drafting such legislation is not straightforward.
“This is a very complex area that they're talking about legislating. Promises were made [under the Conservatives] and then they started looking at it and realised that it was rather more complicated than perhaps some of the rhetoric would have led you to believe,” Kelly said.
“If [the bill] is badly vaguely worded, it is likely to interfere with the right to private family life and likely to interfere with religious freedom.”
The Draft Conversion Practices Bill intends to block action to change, cure or suppress someone's sexuality or gender ID and would seek to criminalise practices that are not currently covered under law.
The Christian Institute (CI) has said it will make a legal challenge against the legislation, should it breach the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects fundamental freedoms including the right to freedom of religion and respect for private and family life.
In the Australian state of Victoria, conversion therapy law suggests that Christian ministers can be investigated for saying the Lord’s prayer with gay friends, according to the CI.
Kelly told Premier Christian News: “We don't want to see that kind of oppressive law being brought in here. A broad ban is going to fit the ordinary work of churches, and it's going to potentially criminalise parents who steer their children away from puberty blockers."
The bill’s guidance calls for consideration and respect for the role of “teachers, religious leaders, parents and carers” and would include stipulations for “legitimate psychological support, treatment, or non-directive counselling.”
Abusive and coercive conversion practices are already illegal under UK law. Kelly argues that this draft bill simply “interferes with religious freedom and parental rights.”
Earlier this month, church leaders representing some 1300 wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, offering their support to ensure legislation takes Christian values and practices into account and provides safeguards to prevent the criminalisation of non-coercive prayer and Christian teaching on marriage.
