‘Science may produce an answer’ to homosexuality, Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe claims The former Tory minister has claimed that science may produce a way for people to ‘switch sexuality’

Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe has defended her beliefs about gay conversion therapy.

The newly-elected MEP was pressed on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday over a 2012 Daily Express column about curing gay people.

Ms Widdecombe had criticised the “homosexual lobby” for opposing attempts to cure homosexuality, complaining: “The unhappy homosexual should, according to gay activists, be denied any chance whatever to investigate any possibility of seeing if he can be helped to become heterosexual.”

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‘Homosexual lobby’

Challenged by Sky News, the former Tory minister said: “There was a time when we thought it was quite impossible for men to become women and vice versa.



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“The fact that we now think that it’s quite impossible for people to switch sexuality doesn’t mean that science may yet produce an answer.”

She added: “I’ve never claimed that such science already exists… I’ve merely said that if you simply rule out the possibility of it, you’re denying people confused about their sexuality the chance [to change it].”

Pressed by host Niall Paterson over her beliefs, Ms Widdecombe added: “I do not imagine for one moment that the Brexit Party will be putting forward a policy on gay sex changes in its manifesto.

“You’re just looking for things that do not determine people’s votes.”

Still legal

Attempting to change a person’s sexuality, known as conversion therapy, is still technically legal in the UK, though the NHS and professional psychotherapeutic bodies have signed a joint agreement opposing it.

In June 2018, equalities minister Penny Mordaunt vowed to end the discredited practice.

A government policy plan made clear: “We will bring forward proposals to end the practice of conversion therapy in the UK. These activities are wrong, and we are not willing to let them continue.



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“Led by the Government Equalities Office, we will fully consider all legislative and non-legislative options to prohibit promoting, offering or conducting conversion therapy.

“Our intent is protect people who are vulnerable to harm or violence, whether that occurs in a medical, commercial or faith-based context.”

No specific legislative proposals have been brought forward on the issue, though attempts to ban the practice have broad cross-party support in Parliament.