Germaine Greer has claimed that transgender women aren’t women, because they don’t know what it’s like to have a “smelly vagina”.

The feminist figure has previously sparked outcry over her views on trans women, claiming “they seem to us ghastly parodies” – and claimed being trans was a “delusion”.

She faced protests this week when she spoke at the Cambridge University Students’ Union, with members of the LGBT+ society encouraging a boycott of the event.

According to the Cambridge Student, when asked about her previous comments, she said: “I didn’t know there was such a thing [as transphobia]. Arachnaphobia, yes. Transphobia, no.”

She also suggested that trans women do not know what it is like “to have a big, hairy, smelly vagina”.

CUSU LGBT+ said: “To invite Germaine Greer back to speak in Cambridge condones her transmisogynistic words and actions.

“The Campaign will no longer hold events at the Union until such time as the Union introduces a policy of not inviting those with a history of hate speech.”

The group held a separate event in protest at the speech – with former councillor Sarah Brown and trans activist Roz Kaveney speaking at the event.

Ms Kaveney alleges that Greer once refused to contribute to The Cambridge Guide To Women Writing In English, because Kaveney was involved in the project.