Around 300 Labour members are claimed to be quitting the party in protest at an update to its rules on all-woman shortlists.

Ten of them wrote in a letter to The Times on Tuesday that the policy "reeks of male authority and male supremacy".

Labour introduced all-woman shortlists in half of its "winnable" seats ahead of the 1997 landslide, when the number of female MPs nearly doubled.

The party's ruling-body is agreeing a statement "clarifying" that transgender women are and have always been allowed to stand to be candidates on all-women shortlists.

Councillors, ex-candidates and a former member of Labour's National Constitutional Committee were among those who said they would cut up their membership cards in protest at the announcement.


They said the decision was made "without any debate or consultation with women members".

Image: Several prominent Labour women complained they were 'rarely listened to'

"Sex is not a self-defined characteristic and it is disingenuous for Labour to pretend that it is," the group wrote.

"We are rarely listened to, as this very real issue shows.

"It is for that reason that we - alongside 300 other women - are resigning from the Labour party today."

One person on Twitter, Claire, wrote: "I'm one of the 300+ women who will be resigning my Labour membership over their disgraceful interpretation of 'all-women shortlists'.

"The move to 'self-ID' is the most anti-feminist thing I've ever seen Labour do."

I’m one of the 300+ women who will be resigning my @UKLabour membership over their disgraceful interpretation of ‘all-women shortlists’. The move to ‘self-ID’ is the most anti-feminist thing I’ve ever seen Labour do #XXit #LabourLosingWomen pic.twitter.com/QU01qYMyLo — Claire’s Outrageous Thoughts (@claireOT) April 28, 2018

A party spokesperson told Sky News: "All-women shortlists are and always have been open to all women, which of course includes trans women."

Social media user Pamela Osborn posted a picture of the comment, saying: "This unthinking response sums up why I have resigned from Labour today.

"There is so much to discuss surrounding self-ID, the Gender Recognition Act and all-women shortlists but Labour prefers to continue denying reality and silencing women.

"After 8 mostly frustrating years, goodbye."

But another, Bronwyn Amelia Driver, wrote: "So, apparently 300 feminists intend to resign for Labour tomorrow as a protest over all women shortlists being open to trans women without gender recognition certificates.

"As a counter protest against said feminists me and my partner intend to join."

A Labour source told Sky News that the party was "discussing with stakeholders" the clarification.

"It does not propose a change to our policy," they said.

A party source also said there had been no spike in membership cancellations.

They added the number who have quit the party was "nowhere near" the 300 figure claimed.