The government is set to announce controversial legislation banning so-called conversion therapy, ITV News reports. The proposals, expected to be announced this week, will introduce new offences for practices aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or 'gender identity'.

Last year, the UK Government rowed back on a ban covering 'gender identity' amid wide societal concern about transgender ideology, but ministers appear to have U-turned. Christian charities and civil liberties groups have expressed concern that a new law could impinge upon free expression and religious liberty.

Speaking as the UK Government and Scottish Government discussed new bans last year, CARE's CEO Ross Hendry stressed the need for wisdom, saying: "Politicians have a responsibility to safeguard everyone’s freedom to worship and live out their beliefs. Wide definitions lead to bad laws and worse outcomes."

In October last year, a distinguished human rights lawyer published a scathing legal opinion on similar proposals to ban "conversion practices" in Scotland. The Scottish Government is set to publish a bill based on recommendations by its own "Expert Advisory Group", compromised of LGBT activists and liberal religious figures.

In the legal opinion, the KC argues that a law based on the recommendations made to Scottish Ministers would trample on fundamental freedoms. He states:

“One effect (and the apparent intent) of the [Scottish Government’s] Expert Group’s recommendations would be to criminalise, among other things, the open expression of such orthodox traditional religious beliefs that sexual activity is only properly permissible within the bounds of an opposite sex marriage if said with a view to encouraging another to refrain from same-sex sexual behaviour."

“The aim of the Expert Group’s proposals is to outlaw all and any religious pastoral care, or parental guidance, or advice or medical or other professional intervention relating to sexual orientation, expression of sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression except that which is deemed by the State to constitute 'affirmative care'", he adds.