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The doctor is now suing the government at an employment tribunal for discrimination on the grounds of his religious belief. The hearing in Birmingham was told how Mackereth believes transgenderism is a “delusional belief” and an ideology “which I disbelieve and detest.”

In a statement, he told the court: “If you believe in gender fluidity, gender is no more than one’s own fantasy about oneself.”

The theologian and “unashamed” Christian, who has 30 years’ medical experience, secured a job as a health and disability assessor at an assessment centre in May 2018.

He told the tribunal he was suspended the following month after being “interrogated” by his boss, James Owen, for refusing to “call any six-foot-tall bearded man ‘madam’ on his whim.” The medic claims he was told he was “overwhelmingly likely” to lose his job unless he agreed.

Mackereth left his role on June 25, 2018, after an email exchange with Owen in which he was instructed to follow the “process as discussed in your training.”

The email read: “If however you do not want to do this, we will respect your decision and your right to leave your contract.”

I appreciate that in the present political climate, some people ... may find my beliefs to be offensive

Mackereth insists he did not resign his position and is the victim of direct discrimination and harassment.

He told the hearing: “The very fact a doctor can be pulled off the shop floor for an urgent interrogation about his beliefs on gender fluidity is both absurd and very sinister, even more so if it results in a dismissal.