Transgender campaigners have helped to create an “atmosphere of menace” which has stifled debate around gender issues, ministers have been warned.

David TC Davies, a Conservative MP, used a Westminster Hall debate to tell ministers that people were "deeply concerned" about the Gender Recognition Act.

The Government held a consultation on changes to the legislation in the summer which would make it easier for trans people to get “legal recognition”. Ministers will announce the outcome in the spring.

Mr Davies said ministers were "proposing fundamental changes that will have a huge impact on people. That is being done without proper consideration and in an atmosphere of menace".

Mr Davies, who has voiced concerns over self-identification in the past, said the changes "would do away with the checks and the balances which are currently made and to allow people to redefine themselves as any gender they wish.

“So a 15 stone bearded man could simply define themselves as female and there would be nothing anybody could do to object to this.”

Mr Davies said ministers needed to go back and conduct the consultation with "people outside the M25".

He said: “Can I suggest to the minister that people should not face dismissal from their jobs for suggesting that someone cannot have a penis?