David Lewis has told party officials he is a woman from when his alarm goes off at 6.50am until midnight each Wednesday

A male Labour activist has been allowed to stand for a women-only position in the party by exploiting gender self-identification rules to declare he is female on Wednesdays.

David Lewis has told party officials he is a woman from when his alarm goes off at 6.50am until midnight each Wednesday - claiming 'if I say I'm a woman, I'm a woman'.

The declaration meets Labour's rules on gender-specific positions because of party guidelines on self-identification.

The idea is to protect the right of trans members in Labour who have not legally changed gender but are criticised by some feminist activists for undermining women.

Mr Lewis has told his Basingstoke constituency party he has called the stunt to highlight problems in the party rules.

He said he wants to 'inform the constituency Labour Party, and maybe some other people, about what this policy means, about what happens when you say that someone's gender depends only on what they say and nothing else'.

Mr Lewis added: 'Anyone else's criticism or questions about my gender identity are just not relevant to the Labour Party at the moment, given the current policy.

'If I say I'm a woman, I'm a woman.'

He told the Spectator, which revealed his candidacy, he did not expect to the contest and hopes Basingstoke members would be 'sensible'.

Dr Sarah Rutherford tweeted: 'I appeal to transactivists to understand, from this example, why so many of us are concerned about the move for self ID'

Barb Jungr said: 'Dear UKLabour I am cancelling my membership you have lost the plot.'

The apparent decision to let Mr Lewis onto the ballot has proved controversial online.

Dr Sarah Rutherford tweeted: 'I appeal to transactivists to understand, from this example, why so many of us are concerned about the move for self ID.

'It is already making the sex category of woman meaningless.'

Barb Jungr said: 'Dear UKLabour I am cancelling my membership you have lost the plot.'

A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'The Labour Party is committed to upholding the principle of affirmative action for women.

'Anyone attempting to breach Labour Party rules and subvert the intention of All Women Shortlists, women’s officers or minimum quotas for women will be dealt with via our established safeguards, selection procedures and disciplinary measures.'