The editor of The Times has denied running a transphobic newspaper and defended the paper’s reporting on trans issues, during an employment tribunal in Edinburgh brought by a former employee who alleges transphobic discrimination.

John Witherow, who has edited the paper since 2013, said: “There is not any trans bias in The Times,” amid cross-examination in which dozens of articles were presented as evidence to the contrary. But he admitted he could not be sure of some of the facts contained within his paper’s trans coverage.

The allegation of one-sided coverage hostile to trans people forms part of a case brought by Katherine O’Donnell, a former night editor at the Scottish edition of the paper. She accuses The Times, her employer for 14 years until 2018, of unfairly making her redundant, blocking pay-rises and promotions, victimising and bullying her, all on her account of her gender identity.

O'Donnell is arguing that the paper’s output, as well as its alleged treatment of her, contributes to a transphobic culture in which to work. If she succeeds in her claim, all UK news organisations could have to consider how they report on trans people and all minorities protected by the Equality Act 2010.

Robin White, the barrister representing O’Donnell, put to Witherow that under his editorship the world-renowned paper had not adhered to the principles of fair reporting about gender identity, as set out in the code of conduct for editors.

But Witherow defended an article by columnist Janice Turner headlined “Children sacrificed to appease trans lobby” by saying: “I think it backs up what she is saying.”