Pro-transgender protest leaders have told hundreds of activists to wear masks ahead of a “heated” rally outside an Oxford talk by the feminist Prof Kathleen Stock later today.

The former University of Sussex philosophy lecturer, who believes trans women are not women, says she is “very determined to go ahead” with the Oxford Union debate at 5pm.

Around 500 trans activists are staging a rally outside, vowing to be “loud” and “fill the streets with drag queens” in a “rejection of hateful and trans-exclusionary speakers”. 

It is set to be one of the angriest prostests to rock Oxford in recent years, with dozens of academics and students demanding that the talk be axed.

Thames Valley Police told The Telegraph its officers were on standby and “will take proportionate action” if there is disruption. 

Oxford Trans+ Pride’s leaflet to protesters urged them to “cover their faces and read up on their rights” as “some heated interactions are likely”, with legal observers invited to watch the police.

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