Harassment of those organising, speaking at or even attending meetings is now routine.

Nearly 200 prominent figures signed an open letter that outlines concerns that public and private bodies are helping close down discussion about government plans to reform the law regarding ‘gender recognition’.

Writers Marina Strinkovsky and Beatrix Campbell, actor Frances Barber, and Pragna Patel, the founder of Southall Black Sisters, are among 195 people who put their names to the letter, which was published in the Observer.