Campaigners have voiced anger that the government will probably break its promise to ban so-called conversion therapy. Time has run out to publish draft legislation with a view to including a bill in the king’s speech in November. As prime minister five years ago, Theresa May promised a ban on practices that sought to suppress or “cure” a person’s sexual orientation. Boris Johnson repeated the pledge during the 2019 general election campaign. This year, Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the Commons, told campaigners that draft legislation would be published before the end of the parliamentary session. But this week she refused to say the commitment would be met before the current session ends on Tuesday. On Friday, Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson declined several times to confirm that ministers still planned to push ahead with the ban. “The government has consistently said that no one in this country should be harmed or harassed for who they are, and so-called conversion therapy is abhorrent,” he said. “But in terms of the future process, I will let the leader of the house set this out.” It is understood that the impasse is due to worries about how to legally frame a ban, and whether one could end up inadvertently criminalising some elements of religion. Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said time was running out to outlaw the “appalling and most cruel practice”. Caroline Nokes, the chair of the Commons’ women and equalities committee, said the government needed to “crack on with a ban”. Jayne Ozanne, a leading campaigner for a ban and a survivor of conversion practices, said: “I’m extremely angry that the government has continued to promise action, but has consistently delivered only obfuscation and delay. “While the prime minister has been on his summer break, I fear that many young LGBT+ people will have been sent to summer camps where they will have been subjected to a range of conversion practices, particularly in religious settings. “It would seem that this government has no intention of protecting them and cannot be trusted to deliver on their promises. To be aware of harm, to have the power to protect and to choose to do nothing is a total moral failing.” According to government research, 7% of LGBTQ+ people have experienced some form of conversion practice. Campaigners say it causes psychological harm and can drive people to self-harm or suicide. In 2021, leading human rights lawyers and experts said conversion practices were degrading and harmful, and should not be tolerated in a civilised society. The forum, chaired by Helena Kennedy KC, said all practices, including prayer, that sought to suppress or change sexual orientation or gender identity should be criminalised. The Church of England called for conversion practices to be banned in 2017, saying the practice had “no place in the modern world”. Some churches in the C of E and other denominations have encouraged LGBTQ+ members to take part in prayer sessions and other activities to rid them of their “sin”. The Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of General Practitioners have also called for a ban, and almost two-thirds of British adults believe conversion practices should be banned, according to a 2021 YouGov survey. Opponents of a ban have said it could mean that parents, teachers or doctors could face court action for discussing gender transition with a child.