A transgender councillor has reported a fellow politician to police for referring to her as ‘he’ during a meeting.

Councillor Zoe Kirk-Robinson, a Tory who represents the Westhoughton North and Chew Moor ward in Bolton, has accused Labour councillor Guy Harkin of ‘misgendering’ her.

The Tory councillor made a speech full council meeting at the town hall on Wednesday, August 24.

After making the speech she said Coun Harkin, ward councillor for Crompton, appeared angry with what she had said and referring to Coun Kirk-Robinson as ‘he’ instead of ‘her’.

Coun Kirk-Robinson, who transitioned from male to female a decade ago, decided to call the police the following day after feeling the comment was a personal attack.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they have received a complaint and plan to speak with Coun Harkin.

Coun Kirk Robinson told the M.E.N: “It is offensive. Police are looking into it and speak to him and settle it with restorative justice.

“He will sit in a room with me and listen to why it is wrong.

“The thing is we were all shocked by it. There have been complaints from the Labour councillors, it shocked everyone. He shouldn’t have done it.”

She added: “I am a crime ambassador for the council, I tell each person to report it so they know how much it is happening.

“If he is feeling comfortable doing this at the highest level in the town, it is going to set a precedent for people in the town.

“There is a huge amount of transphobia in Bolton, it legitimates it for all of the other people.”

Coun Harkin, 69, a retired lecturer and former mayor, has previously come under attack for suggesting naming streets after Adolf Hitler and other Nazis in a bit to sabotage a housing development.

He told the MEN that he has not been contacted by the police - and said that he had apologised for his remark, which he said was a genuine mistake.

Coun Harkin said: “I understand from the leader of the council that the police have not accepted Coun Kirk-Robinson’s view that a slip of the tongue followed by a prompt apology constitutes a “hate crime”, they have not been in contact with me.”

A spokesman for GMP said: “On Thursday August 25, 2016, GMP received a report of a hate incident.

“Police have launched an investigation and enquiries are ongoing.

“Hate incidents will not be tolerated in Greater Manchester and should be reported to police on 101 or using the True Vision website www.report-it.org.uk or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.”