FAILING to include mental health reforms in the King’s Speech to Parliament “would be an insult,” charities have warned.

The Tories outlined so-called once-in-a-generation reforms to the Mental Health Act in line with the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto, vowing to treat “mental health with the same urgency as physical health.”

But there are fears the reforms will be sidelined after the government did not respond to scrutiny of its proposed legislation by a joint committee earlier this year.

Vicki Nash, associate director of policy and campaigns at Mind, said: “Failing to include the draft Mental Health Bill in tomorrow’s King’s Speech would be an insult to the countless professionals and people with lived experience who have dedicated huge amounts of time and resources into shaping the reforms.

“The Mental Health Act must be brought into the 21st century to give people greater say over their treatment at their most unwell, and stop the shocking racial disparities which see black people over four times more likely to be sectioned.

“We urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take his final chance to deliver a safer, more humane Mental Health Act which not only has widespread cross-party support but has been a Conservative manifesto commitment for several years in a row.”

In their report on the draft Bill, which was published in January, MPs welcomed the reforms, but said that “proper resourcing and implementation will be crucial” to the proposed changes.

“Mental health services are under significant pressure and, in a difficult fiscal environment, transparency and accountability will be key,” the document added.

The joint committee recommended a number of measures, including the creation of a mental health commissioner post.

The Department of Health & Social Care declined to comment.