THE Scottish government must act now to ban “cruel and abusive” conversion therapy, the Greens urged today.

SNP ministers had previously committed themselves to banning the practice as part of their 2021 coalition deal with the Scottish Greens.

But after its collapse in 2024, the SNP put the plans on ice and work in tandem with the Westminster government.

Green equalities spokeswoman Maggie Chapman MSP said: “Conversion practices are cruel and abusive and have no place in a modern or progressive Scotland.

“The SNP committed to a ban but it has outsourced the work to a UK Labour government that has sat on its hands and shown that it cannot be trusted when it comes to equality.

“Far too many people have been made to suffer for far too long. We don’t have time to waste.

“We can ban conversion practices in Scotland now.”

A Scottish government spokesperson responded: “We are committed to ending conversion practices in Scotland and working towards complementary approaches across the UK.

“We will prepare legislation for introduction to the Scottish Parliament should a UK‑wide approach not be achievable.”