DRAFT CONVERSION PRACTICES BILL - TRACKER UPDATED: 26 OCTOBER 2026 The first public evidence session is scheduled for Thursday 29 October, with witnesses from Stonewall, Galop, the Ban Conversion Practices Coalition, Gay Men's Network, Sex Matters and LGB Alliance. At Protect and Teach, we continue to scrutinise the proposed legislation, particularly its implications for children's safeguarding, parental rights, freedom of expression and legitimate therapeutic practice. Our live tracker has now been updated with: 📌 Confirmed witnesses and parliamentary hearing times. 📌 New stakeholder statements and evidence. 📌 Our latest research into the WHO, European initiatives and Australian legislation. 📌 Outstanding questions about the Bill's definitions, safeguards, protection orders and financial implications. We oppose the Bill in its present form because we do not believe the Government has established a sufficient evidential and legal case for these additional powers. You can examine the evidence and follow developments yourself: 🔗 protectandteach.org/publicat… Want to know what you can do? ✉️ Write to your MP. Ask them to examine the draft legislation, its evidence base and its potential consequences for children, families and professionals. You can find your MP and their contact details here: members.parliament.uk/FindYo… Ask what safeguards they believe are necessary, whether existing laws have been adequately assessed, and how they intend to scrutinise the Government's proposals. You can also watch the Joint Committee's evidence sessions through Parliament Live: parliamentlive.tv/Guide Parliamentary scrutiny matters. So does public engagement. Read the evidence. Follow the proceedings. Ask questions. Make your views known.

🚨CLOSES MIDNIGHT SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER🚨 Please complete, I have and it's just a simple page, I did not attend in person but watched cases live, like many. We know from follows that many of you have observed a court or tribunal in England and Wales in the last year, including the family court, please share your experience and share with friends please. Open justice matters for safeguarding too, we need to be able to understand the laws we live under. @SBarrettBar @SpeechUnion @OurDutyUK @Justice4SEND @MyCafcass @PoliceSEENUK @ebswa @JournalismSEEN courtobservers.org/2026/09/1…

PARENTS, TEACHERS, THERAPISTS & SAFEGUARDING PROFESSIONALS, PARLIAMENT NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU! The Draft Conversion Practices Bill raises serious concerns about parental conversations, therapeutic freedom and safeguarding. Protect and Teach opposes the Bill. Abuse must be prevented, but we do not need legislation that risks criminalising ordinary conversations or deterring professionals from providing support. 📢 Public call for evidence NOW OPEN 📅 Deadline: 16 November 2026, 5 pm ⚠️ Your submission must be original and unpublished. You can reference existing research. We've explained the Committee's questions, how to respond and what you need to know. 👇 Read our guide: protectandteach.org/parliame… Don't leave it to others to raise these concerns. Make your evidence count.

Good to see this legal challenge to the awful Caffcass guidance. "Plummer claims that this advice is “encouraging practitioners to characterise lawful and potentially protective parental conduct as a safeguarding concern.”" thetimes.com/article/e5cc1bb…

Criminal barrister @Jebadoo2 explains why the disastrously drafted "conversion practices" bill will criminalise normal family debates. As currently drafted this bill will be a disaster.

Well well well. It's the coercive control harm threshold is it. Imagine my surprise. Because that's not at all leaky is it.

“I think this bill is ripe for a declaration of incompatibility. And what an embarrassment that would be for the signature centre piece of human rights legislation to run a risk of incompatibility. Particularly on Article 8 when the first poor, unfortunate parents, I suspect mothers, are arrested under this bill”. Yesterday, at the first oral evidence session at the Joint Committee on the draft Conversion Practices Bill in Westminster, the panel was asked how the bill will interact with the European Convention on Human Rights. Watch criminal barrister Dennis Kavanagh @Jebadoo2 set out how the bill will be incompatible with Article 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14 of the ECHR.

It is NOT a ‘very high bar’ - Maugham and his ilk have made sure of that! Children are being told that not being affirmed will KILL them. There will be alarm and distress all over the shop.

‘as currently drafted’ Why don’t Tory men have a spine? This Bill is tyrannical and extremely dangerous for children, families and even democracy, it needs chucking out entirely.

Absolutely nailed it Dennis @jebadoo

Conversion practices bill committee need to watch this video. This person has been correctly sexed. This is his response. Such responses, particularly from trans identified teenagers, are very common. Does this meet the "high bar of distress" required for prosecution?

His face when he realises he actually has to answer that question

Strong similarity with the assisted dying bill. An activist’s Bill which *sounds* uncontentious & worthy ” on the face of it - but aims to achieve an ulterior purpose, in this case to smuggle a concept of “trans child” onto Statute book despite making no distinctions by age.

Brilliant questioning here from @NazShahBfd of Professor Ilias Trispiotis: she forces him to concede that - yes, ordinary parental conversations with their children will fall under the scope of this Bill and they will be criminalised

Could a parent's ordinary conversation with their child end up in court? Under the Draft Conversion Practices Bill, it could. There's no express parental exemption, the definition of abuse is broad, and courts can make orders without any prior conviction. We read every line. Our analysis runs to 769 pages. A minister's assurance is not a statutory safeguard 👇 protectandteach.org/a-minist…

This is really worrying. The mandatory investigative duty under s47 of Children Act 1989 will be triggered. All these chaos and expense for what exactly? A social contagion that wasn’t on anyone’s radar less than a decade ago.

The Conversion Bill is not compatible with basic human rights.

Watch @Jebadoo2 being wonderful.

Yes, truth bombs dropped by @Jebadoo2 and @HJoyceGender do tend to hurt when landing on hastily cobbled bullshit.

FAREWELL TO A YORKSHIRE LEGEND SIR PATRICK STEWART (1940–2026) 🇬🇧 Very sad news as we remember the extraordinary life of Sir Patrick Stewart, who has died aged 86. Born in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, on 13th July 1940, Patrick Stewart went from humble beginnings in a Yorkshire mill town to become one of the most respected actors of his generation. A proud Yorkshireman with a voice recognised around the world, he never forgot where he came from. His love of acting began at school, eventually taking him to the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he established himself as an exceptional classical actor. But it was his unforgettable portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation that introduced him to millions of viewers across the world. A new generation would come to love him as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. From Shakespeare to science fiction, his commanding presence, warmth, humour and unmistakable voice made every performance memorable. In 2010, he was knighted for his services to drama. Sir Patrick was also a passionate campaigner, speaking openly about domestic abuse, supporting veterans experiencing mental health difficulties and championing animal welfare. He was a lifelong supporter of Huddersfield Town and remained immensely proud of his Yorkshire roots. His family confirmed that he had been living with Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia. For everyone who has watched someone they love live with dementia, that news will carry particular sadness. Behind the famous face was a husband, father, friend and much-loved human being. From a young lad growing up in Mirfield to a knight of the realm and an international star, what an extraordinary journey. Thank you for the stories, the performances, the laughter and the memories. My thoughts are with his wife, his children, family, friends and everyone who loved him. Rest in peace, Sir Patrick. 1940–2026 🇬🇧

Charles Plummer, a former Cafcass social worker who acted as a family court guardian, is preparing a legal challenge alongside Bayswater Support Group concerning Cafcass guidance on children's gender identity. According to the report: Plummer was removed from a child's case following complaints from the child's school and local authority. The dispute concerned his use of female pronouns in formal court reports rather than the child's requested they/them pronouns. He says he used the child's preferred pronouns when communicating directly with the child. He argues that using those pronouns in court documents without parental agreement creates difficulties for professional independence. Internal correspondence reportedly referred to reputational damage arising from his position. Plummer alleges that his gender-critical beliefs were not accommodated. Cafcass disputes the wider criticism of its approach. It says its guidance is intended to protect children's welfare and safeguarding and ensure that children can express themselves in family proceedings. The legal correspondence was reportedly received on 28 October 2026, with a response requested by 11 November 2026. This is an impending judicial review challenge, not a completed court finding.