Liz Truss Campaign Suggests She 'Hates' Policy Banning Conversion Therapy
Liz Truss’ leadership campaign has hinted that she plans to U-turn on banning so-called ‘conversion therapy’ should she become Prime Minister, openDemocracy reported.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative Party who is now the director of her leadership election campaign, was asked about her policy on banning the harmful practice at an event hosted by the Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF) on August 9.
“I hate it. Can I be clear about that? I think when you start banning things like this you enter a maze of problems. And I absolutely believe that Liz is very much there,” he explained.
Banning conversion therapy has been one of Truss’ flagship policies as Minister for Equalities for some time.
“We are absolutely committed to a ban which will make sure LGBT people can live their lives free from the threat of harm or abuse, whilst protecting free speech as well as protecting under-18s from being channeled into a irreversible decisions about their future,” she previously said.
However, Duncan Smith, who is the Member of Parliament for Chingford and Woodford Green, suggested that this may not be her view after all.
He continued: “People are allowed their beliefs. You may not agree with them all the time. But the idea you ban them from this is this kind of ghastly woke culture […] I think this is a trap for politicians to head down and it will just make life worse. So Liz is strong on all this woke stuff. And I think she will certainly take the same view as I and many others do.”
Conversion therapy has been widely condemned by health experts and bodies all over the world, including the National Health Service and the World Health Organization, with some comparing it to torture.
A commitment to banning conversion therapy was first made by Theresa May’s government in 2018, though is yet to be implemented in the UK.
“The government has a proud record on LGBT rights, and we are committed to bringing forward legislation to ban conversion therapy,” a spokesperson said in an interview with Gay Times. “Our proposals strengthen existing provisions and introduce an offence which together protects under 18s and vulnerable adults from this abhorrent practice. Recognizing the complexity of issues and need for further careful thought, we will carry out separate work to consider the issue of transgender conversion therapy further.”
Read related myGwork articles here:
Liz Truss Attempts to Court LGBTQ+ Conservative Vote
Barrister Who Slammed Stonewall’s Trans Inclusion Advice Handed Key Equalities Role By Liz Truss
Liz Truss Suggests Government’s LGBT+ Action Plan Has Been Scrapped
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