Labour leader Keir Starmer meets local residents at Thrive at Connect during his visit to Dewsbury. Picture date: Friday April 1, 2022.
(Picture: PA)Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Prime Minister of using the U-turn on conversion therapy to distract the public from the cost of living crisis.
The politician made the accusation as a rise to energy prices, council tax payments and the national insurance precept all come into effect from April 1.
During a visit to Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, the Labour leader called on the Government to follow through on its promises and ban all kinds of conversion therapy on Friday.
He said: “All conversion therapy in all its forms is wrong. The Government should just keep to its promises on this.
"But, look, let’s be honest and clear about what’s happening today: the Government is trying to get us all to talk about conversion therapy because they don’t want us focusing on the cost-of-living crisis, on the increase in energy bills, where they’ve got such a pathetic response.
"So, it’s wrong, the Government should keep to its promises. But, you know, this is classic Conservatives trying to sort of distract people over here, when really the issue is the cost of living and energy prices."
A Government spokesperson said: “The Government has a proud record on LGBT rights, and the Prime Minister is committed to bringing forward legislation to ban conversion therapy.
“The content, scope and timing of the proposed bill will be confirmed in due course.”
On Thursday night, the Government enacted a U-turn on the decision to scrap banning conversion therapy following criticism from Tory MPs.
Tory MP for Bishop Auckland Dehenna Davison said prior to the U-turn: “This decision is fundamentally wrong, and needs to be reversed immediately.
For the Prime Minister to do this on #TransDayOfVisibility is simply beyond outrageous. We say again for all those who need to hear it #TransRightsAreHumanRights #BanConversionTherapy
— The Rainbow Project (@TRPNI) March 31, 2022
“As well as breaking an explicit promise, this is a matter of basic decency. Being gay is not something that needs curing.”
Despite the U-turn, some groups such as The Rainbow Project claimed the ban must include transgender people.
Conversion therapy attempts to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, according to NHS England.
