THE “inadequate” Conversion Practices Bill is what happens when unions put their trust in a “centrist Labour government” that dilutes promises to workers, trade unionists warned on Friday.

Delegates at the TUC LGBT+ conference discussed the need to end conversion therapy in Britain urgently amid high levels of abuse faced by members of the community.

Nearly a third of LGBT+ people in Britain have been subjected to conversion practices, with nearly one in five experiencing physical assault intended to alter their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The government published its draft Bill this week, but unions demanded it bring the legislation forward.

Dan Rees, of Aslef, said that while the announcement was welcome, it “becomes less promising” when considering how long it was promised for.

He said that while conversion practises have already been banned in many European countries, Britain was “falling way behind.”

“With the Labour government changing its leader, we need to be sure that this is still going to be on the legislative agenda,” he said.

John Stack, of RMT, said that in order to protect LGBT+ people from suffering and trauma, “any ban on conversion therapy must be holistic and comprehensive, and [must not] make excuses for religious activities, carried out to suppress someone’s gender or sexuality, no matter how innocuous they may appear.”

PCS union’s Fiona Brittle said: “This inadequate Bill is what happens when trust is placed in a centrist Labour government, most interested in appeasing big business, maintaining capital stability through austerity measures, and appealing to populist narratives from Reform — [pitting] working-class people against each other rather than uniting us around socialist policies.

“Look at the Employment Rights Act. That was diluted and delayed in the same way that this Bill was.

“Where is the Labour government that claims to be for workers? They are delaying and diluting everything that they promised us, and this is no different.

“We must not put faith in a centrist Labour government… We must put faith in our members’ industrial strength, and we must demand a strike wave across all affiliated unions, to end austerity, to bring healthcare, homes, and liberation to all workers, [including] LGBT+ workers.”