Trans row professor Kathleen Stock says some former Sussex Uni colleagues engaged in 'low-level bullying'

Kathleen Stock, the Sussex university professor who resigned following student protests over her views on transgender issues, has claimed she faced "low-level bullying" from her colleagues.

The 48-year-old philosophy professor faced calls to be sacked last month after she was accused of transphobia for saying she did not believe people can change their biological sex.

Speaking on the BBC Woman's Hour, she suggested a small number of academics could have stoked the protests.

She said: "I don't know if the student activity would have been there if the colleague activity hadn't already been there."

She claimed that instead of debating with her directly, some staff mobilised students against her during lectures.

"There's a small group of people who are opposed to what I say and instead of getting involved in arguing with me, using reason, evidence, the traditional university methods, they tell their students in lectures that I pose a harm to trans students," she said.

"Or they go on to Twitter and say that I'm a bigot."

The feminist professor, who identifies as a lesbian, said that she first became aware of the complexities of the trans rights movement when she saw 'men' on lesbian dating websites.

When asked by the Woman's Hour host if by 'men' she meant 'trans women' she replied: "I don't know what they were' explaining that physically some had an appearance traditionally considered as masculine but 'with female names'.

Announcing her departure on Twitter last Thursday, Prof Stock said: “This has been a very difficult few years, but the leadership’s approach more recently has been admirable and decent. I hope that other institutions in similar situations can learn from this.

“Am particularly glad to see University emphasising that bullying and harassment anyone for their legally held beliefs is unacceptable in their workplace.”

Prof Stock has previously said she is “at odds” with a large section of academics as she believes gender identity is not more important than facts about biological sex, “particularly when it comes to law and policy”.

Her views led to a campaign, reportedly set up by students, calling for the professor to be sacked.

Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has also spoken out about Professor Stock stepping down from her job.

Ms Badenoch also insisted that while the Government does not believe in gender self-identification for trans people, there should be a process to get gender recognition certificates.

In a letter to staff, Sussex's Vice Chancellor Adam Tickell said: "We had hoped that Professor Stock would feel able to return to work, and we would have supported her to do so.

"She has decided that recent events have meant that this will not be possible, and we respect and understand that decision."