The government is launching a consultation on how to make coercive conversion therapies illegal in the UK.
Setting out proposals today for how they plan to crack down on “coercive and abhorrent” practices that seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity of individuals, the Government Equalities Office said: “We recognise there is a plurality of experience in this area and that there are adults who seek counselling to help them live a life that they feel is more in line with their personal beliefs.
“We do not intend to ban adults from seeking such counselling freely, but consent requirements will be robust and stringent.”
Following the six-week consultation, the Equalities Minister, Liz Truss, will then decide on whether the plans should be amended, before a bill is drawn up by next spring.
The aim is to put the bill onto the statute book by May 2022.
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A consultation on proposals to ban conversion therapy launches today.
The six-week consultation brings the public, stakeholders and Government together to develop an effective ban.
— Office for Equality and Opportunity (@oeogovuk) October 29, 2021
When a national LGBT survey was conducted in 2017, around 5% of people who responded reported having been offered conversion therapy, and a further 2% of those respondents said they had undergone it.
Ensuring physical conversion therapy acts are sentenced appropriately and introducing a new offence for so-called talking conversion therapies.
Ensuring those found guilty of conversion therapy offences have any profit they obtained from those crimes removed, and strengthening the case for individuals to be disqualified from holding a senior role in a charity where they are convicted of a conversion therapy offence.
Introducing Conversion Therapy Protection Orders to protect potential victims from undergoing the practice, including abroad – this could include removing passports of potential victims, who are at risk of being taken overseas for conversion therapy.
Exploring further measures to prevent the promotion of conversion therapy.
Speaking on the launch of the consultation, Liz Truss – Minister for Women and Equalities – said: ”There should be no place for the abhorrent practice of coercive conversion therapy in our society [so] we are publishing detailed proposals that will stop appalling conversion therapies and make sure LGBT people can live their lives free from the threat of harm or abuse.
“As we build back better from the pandemic, I want everyone to be able to love who they want and be themselves.”
She also added that the “archaic practice” has “no place in modern life.”
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The government has set out proposals for how they plan to crack down on the “coercive and abhorrent” practices / Credit: Unsplash
Jayne Ozanne – who quit the government’s LGBT advisory panel in March and has direct experience of conversion therapy – told The Guardian that she welcomed the launch of the consultation, but added that she was “deeply concerned about the loophole it creates by allowing adults to consent to these harmful and degrading practices”.
She added that the consultation document “makes little mention of the harm that religious practices are known to cause”.
Alicia Kearns – a Conservative MP who has long campaigned for a conversion therapy ban – praised the “robust proposals” but added that she remains “unconvinced that anyone can consent to such an abusive practice.”
“I will look closely at the proposed ban to ensure that victims and survivors get the protections they need and deserve,” she concluded.
Stonewall UK also took to Twitter this morning to express some concerns over the launch of the consultation, saying: “Stonewall, alongside many other organisations, activists and our supporters, has campaigned for years for a ban, and the strength of these proposals is testament to the impact we have collectively had in that time – however, there are still concerning loopholes that the UK Government must close, including on prayer and statutory support for victims.”
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We also can’t support the proposals if they allow for people to “consent” to conversion therapy. A practice that is abusive cannot be consented to. If we are to truly put this shameful practice behind us, the ban must not allow for any excuses or any exemptions.
“We also can’t support the proposals if they allow for people to “consent” to conversion therapy – a practice that is abusive cannot be consented to.
If we are to truly put this shameful practice behind us, the ban must not allow for any excuses or any exemptions.”
You can find more about the proposals via the gov.uk website here.
Featured Image – Unsplash
News
A Withington boozer has been named ‘Pub of the Year’ in South Manchester for 2026
Danny Jones
A pub in Withington has just been named the best pub in the South Manchester area for 2026, as the area continues to back CAMRA and proper boozers.
It’s not the first time they’ve picked up this kind of gong either.
Technically, it’s picked up the award for ‘Pub of the Year for Stockport and South Manchester’, but the venue itself sits on the edge of Withy and the outskirts of Fallowfield.
Operated by legendary local business, Hydes Brewery, they claim the trophy after having just missed out on the top spot in 2025, coming second behind The Crown in Heaton Mersey.
Not this time, though, as the Hydes pub located along Wilmslow Road won this year’s prize by some distance, in fact.
The Salford-born beer makers obviously have lots of sites all over Greater Manchester, many of whom regularly pick up monthly Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) awards – not to mention collecting a fair few annual ones – The Vic in Withington is one thought to have been long overdue for the grand prize.
Beloved by regulars and other nearby residents in and around the borough alike, the local community believe this place to be much more than just another watering hole.
For example, it’s been celebrated for its diversity and grassroots work throughout the area, with the team receiving praise for their extensive charitable efforts, such as with the Mero’s World Foundation.
The organisation was established by native Manc mum, Kelly Brown, in memory of her son Rhamero West, who was tragically stabbed to death in Manchester in 2021 at the age of 16; the charity aims to combat knife crime and support youth in the community through various initiatives.
As for The Vic, they’ve helped support the cause for many years, raising vital funds through their New Year’s Eve ticket sales, raffles, and with the management team taking on multiple athletic and endurance challenges on behalf of the cause.
Put simply, husband and wife landlords, Alyson and Paul Mitchell, are absolute legends.
Commenting on the win, Alyson said in a statement: “We’re so proud to win this award, and it is a real honour to be named the best pub in the region by CAMRA. We love what we do, but we couldn’t do it without our amazing team and the incredible support and top-quality ales we receive from Hydes.
“The Victoria is a truly special place for us, and we genuinely have the best customers you could ask for, from students to our local regulars. Winning this year after coming so close previously proves that our collective hard work has really paid off.”
Aside from serving a regular lineup of five or five Hydes cask beers, showing all the games on the box, and generally becoming a bit of a cornerstone of the community, Vic customers also helped raise £1,000 for the Withington Civic Society to install a much-needed community defibrillator outside the premises.
These are the kinds of things we want to hear happening in public houses across the ten boroughs, and it’s yet another instance of South Manchester, specifically, enjoying its moment in the sud-soaked sun.
Manchester City win first Women’s Super League title in a decade
Danny Jones
After a decade of hope and hard work, Manchester City have finally won the Women’s Super League once again in a huge moment for the local club.
Lifting not just their first division title in 10 years, but only their second WSL trophy since the modern female football era began in 2010, it felt like only a matter of time to many supporters.
Ending a six-year Chelsea supremacy, this is also manager Andrée Jeglertz’s first at the helm of Man City’s women’s team, who arrived at the club with a strong silverware record at the start of this season.
These were the scenes at home base as one key result sealed their status as champions:
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) May 6, 2026
City Women secured the WSL title following third-placed Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton on Wednesday evening.
They even managed to do so with a game to spare and a six-point gap over the west London club, which has won so much over the past few years.
Speaking in an interview with club media after confirmation of the win, captain and Euro 2025-winning Lionesses defender, Alex Greenwood, said: “[It feels] absolutely incredible. “A moment – we as a team, me personally – us as a club has waited so long for”.
“An incredible moment, it’s an incredible feeling. I’m so glad we got to spend this moment together as a group. Just an absolutely incredible feeling.”
With fans watching both at home, along with the first team themselves, the celebrations have already begun as the team shared a look back at how they got here.
You can see the recap posted on social media in full below.
Commenting on his latest accolade, the Swedish head coach added in a full club statement: “There’s never been doubt about the talent in the group, but there is something else about talking about being winners and champions. We started that early, and we believed in that. That’s led us through this year.
“It hasn’t been easy; it’s been hard work every day, but we had a strong belief that we could be sitting here in May and be champions. That is the first thing, and we definitely deserve it.”
Congratulations to the Cityzens on a well-deserved and long-awaited WSL title; could this be the start of another sporting dynasty of dominance over in East Manchester? Only time will tell…
In other news around the Etihad Campus, the women’s, EDS and academy team stadium is also set to host the final of the FA Youth Cup later this month.
The Manc -
29th October 2021 
