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A controversial Labour party member claims she was suspended from the party for saying “women don’t have d***s“.

Jennifer James, a member of the Garston and Halewood branch of the Labour party , took to Twitter yesterday to speak of her suspension.

She posted a screenshot of the letter she received stating that she may have breached “party rules“ through her activity on social media and that the party would be investigating the allegations.

But James claims the suspension comes after she tweeted: “I’m not afraid to say women don’t have d***s“.

Complaints were made to the party earlier this month after Ms James launched a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to keep transgender women from being included on the party’s all-women shortlists.

The campaign has raised £20,000 since being set up and while the campaigners have made it clear that they are “absolutely committed to trans people” living free from discrimination and violence and argue that Labour requires trans representation, a statement on their GoFundMe page says these goals should not come at the expense of female candidates.

The statement reads: “Comrades, we are a group of Labour women who want to ensure all-women shortlists (AWS) remain reserved for females and that women’s representation in the party increases.

“We believe that the election of self-identifying transwomen as women’s officers and their inclusion on all-women shortlists is reducing and undermining female representation in the Labour party.”

The group say that they are furious that they are having to “fight another battle for women’s representation, just 100 years after the suffragette victories”.

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The group say that they have been advised that a legal challenge to the Labour party on this issue could be “winnable” - but the campaign has drawn strong criticism on social media - including from Labour shadow treasury minister Clive Lewis.

He tweeted: “I’ve thought & read long &hard on the broader trans-rights issue. I’ve listened to arguments on both sides & I’m happy to say I think any move to allow trans-women onto all-women shortlists has my whole hearted support. The crowd-funder below is wrong & should be opposed by @UKLabour.”

Others on twitter added their criticism. Sarah Dacey said: “This fundraising campaign is in direct violation of the 2010 equality act. Trans women are women. End of. Labour needs to reign in its members NOW.”

Fellow twitter user Richard added: “As a Labour member, I’m absolutely disgusted that thinly veiled transphobic gofundme has raised £10k in 2 days.

“It started with “comrades”, but they’re no comrades of mine- get out of my party.

“Trans women are women, there is no secret anti-woman conspiracy, grow up.”

In their statement, the group behind the campaign argue that the idea of gender is a “man made, toxic set of stereotypes, used to restrict men and women”.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “At the NEC it was confirmed that all women shortlists are and always have been open to all women, which of course includes trans women.

“The Party will consult with key stakeholders about the wording of this policy and will issue guidance.”