British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to delay a ban on "conversion therapy" following unprecedented losses for Conservatives during last week's by-elections.
Sunak tried to downplay the losses in Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth by saying that the disappointing results were only because of normal mid-term blues and "local factors." However, senior figures are urging the prime minister to bring forward a planned reshuffle to inject more vigor into his team.
Britain's Conversion Therapy
The situation also comes after Sunak and several other lawmakers have faced mounting pressure to issue a ban on the controversial issue. A few days ago, the prime minister was expected to bring in a long-promised ban after backlash from Conservative MPs.
Sunak was previously set to include a draft bill in the King's Speech to prohibit attempts to change an individual's sexuality amid growing anger over delays and uncertainty, as per the Independent.
The development follows intense lobbying made by anti-trans Tory MP Miriam Cates, who is an evangelical Christian famous for pushing against trans rights. The idea of banning the practice was first brought by former Prime Minister Theresa May five years ago.
However, such a ban that includes trans people has not yet materialized since then and Tory inaction has sparked condemnation from MPs, charities, and LGBTQ+ activists. Conversion therapy is making efforts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity in an attempt to "cure" them.
Chief whip Simon Hart also warned the prime minister that the Tory government would face backlash if it failed to introduce the Conversion Therapy Bill. But efforts were stomped after more than 40 MPs signed Cates' letter that demanded Sunak to ditch the draft bill in the King's Speech.
By-Election Results
Cates allegedly said the bill would have "terrible unintended consequences, potentially criminalizing parents and doctors who counsel children against "changing gender." A government source said that there was no way that conversion therapy was becoming law before the election, according to The Pink News.
The controversy surrounding conversion therapy is just another problem that Sunak's government is facing. The Conservative losses in Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth threaten to make the prime minister's colleagues lose their nerve moving forward.
While a Downing Street source initially said that the prime minister was not planning a reshuffle "this week," another insider said that officials were preparing "welcome packs." These were supposedly made to brief and reshuffle ministers on their new responsibilities.
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, and Transport Secretary Mark Harper were among the individuals tipped for the sack in a reshuffle. This was something that government sources previously indicated would not come until the end of the year.
Several reports suggested that even Home Secretary Suella Braverman could be moved to a different position. Furthermore, some Tories are pushing for the removal of party chairman Greg Hands following the defeats in the by-elections last week.
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick also acknowledged that ministers were disappointed with the results of the by-elections. However, he insisted that the prime minister was making "good progress" on delivering on the public's priorities, said the Daily Mail.
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