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A controversial crowdfunding campaign launched by a Liverpool Labour member has raised more than £12,000 in a bid to keep transgender women from being included on the party’s all-women shortlists.

The campaign, created by Garston and Halewood Labour member Jennifer James, has been heavily criticised by many - including party front bencher Clive Lewis.

But the crowdfunder - which aims to pay for a legal challenge against the party over the inclusion of “self-identifying transwomen” as women’s officers and against their inclusion on all-women shortlists - has raising more than £12,000 in just two days.

Ms James and her co-creators have made it clear that they are “absolutely committed to trans people” living free from discrimination and violence and argue that Labour requires trans representation.

But in a statement on their Go Fund Me page they argue that this should not come at the expense of female candidates.

The statement reads: “Comrades, we are a group of Labour women who want to ensure all-women shortlists (AWS) remain reserved for females and that women’s representation in the party increases.

“We believe that the election of self-identifying transwomen as women’s officers and their inclusion on all-women shortlists is reducing and undermining female representation in the Labour party.”

The group say that they are furious that they are having to “fight another battle for women’s representation, just 100 years after the suffragette victories.”

The group say that they have been advised that a legal challenge to the Labour party on this issue could be “winnable” - but the campaign has drawn strong criticism on social media - including from Labour shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis.

He tweeted: “Ive thought & read long & hard on the broader trans-rights issue. Ive listened to arguments on both sides & Im happy to say I think any move to allow trans-women onto all-women shortlists has my whole hearted support.The crowd-funder below is wrong & should be opposed by @UKLabour.”

Others on twitter added their criticism, Sarah Dacey said: “This fundraising campaign is in direct violation of the 2010 equality act. Trans women are women. End of. Labour needs to reign in its members NOW.”

Fellow twitter user Richard added: “As a Labour member, I’m absolutely disgusted that thinly veiled transphobic gofundme has raised £10k in 2 days.

“It started with “comrades”, but they’re no comrades of mine- get out of my party.

“Trans women are women, there is no secret anti-woman conspiracy, grow up.”

In their statement, the group behind the campaign argue that the idea of gender is a “manmade, toxic set of stereotypes, used to restrict men and women.”

It adds: “We want to see it abolished, not codified into law.

“We support all gender non-conforming people: be they lesbian, gay or trans.

“Feminists have always been the vanguard of the fight for people to live their lives in a gender non-conforming way and will continue to do so - but never at the expense of women’s rights and representation.”

The campaign has so far raised £12,183 in the two days since it was launched.