The government has confirmed its backing to efforts by Rutland MP Alicia Kearns to ban 'gay conversion therapy.'

The MP received the support from Health Secretary Matt Hancock in parliament earlier this week.

Mrs Kearns told parliament: "LGBT so-called conversion therapy is an abhorrent and fraudulent practice, so please will my right hon. Friend confirm to me and all my Conservative colleagues across the House who care deeply about this issue that he will do all he can to end this abusive practice at the very earliest opportunity?"

Mr Hancock replied: "Yes, I will. I agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend that so-called conversion therapy is abhorrent. I praise her for the campaign she is running on this.

"I agree with the Prime Minister who, from this Dispatch Box, committed to ensuring that that practice is stamped out. We have a review under way. I will make sure that I work very closely with my hon. Friend, who has done so much to make the case."

The MP said on twitter afterwards: "Love is not a pathology.

"We absolutely must end the abusive practice of so-called #LGBT #ConversionTherapy.

"Since being elected, the ban has been my number one national domestic policy ask of the Government.

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"I am determined to eradicate this abhorrent practice."

Mrs Kearns has quizzed the government on this issue before, as reported previously by Nub News.

She also won many plaudits for an article she wrote in Attitude magazine on the subject, which Nub News also reported.