Sir Keir Starmer refused to take punitive action against two of his own Labour ministers and a number of other MPs who plotted to defy a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.

According to leaked WhatsApp messages, at least two ministers have been accused of secretly plotting to defy the ruling that trans women are not legally women.

The messages, obtained by the Mail on Sunday, revealed ministers are planning to hold a meeting this week to "decide a way forwards" and "organise" against the ruling despite the Government's public claim to welcome the landmark judgment.