Eleven Labour councillors have been suspended as part of the party’s probe into vile WhatsApp comments posted – MPs Oliver Ryan and Andrew Gwynne have also been suspended
Eleven Labour councillors were suspended last night as part of the party’s probe into vile comments posted in a WhatsApp group.
Two MPs – Oliver Ryan and Andrew Gwynne – have already been suspended from Labour for messages posted in the “Trigger Me Timbers” group. Keir Starmer also sacked Mr Gwynne from his role as a health minister.
Among the list of suspended councillors are nine Tameside councillors and two from Stockport council. Mr Gwynne’s wife Alison, a Tameside councillor, is among those suspended.
Three of the Tameside councillors also dramatically quit from their roles on Monday after being caught up in the scandal. Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton decided to “step away from their executive duties”, a statement from Tameside Labour said.
Mr Gwynne was sacked on Saturday night after vile messages emerged from the WhatsApp chat. Among them, he allegedly joked that he hoped an elderly woman would die after she asked about her bins. In a mock reply to the 72-year-old woman he said “F*** your bins”.
Other messages included a racist comment about veteran MP Dianne Abbott and sharing a sexist post about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner performing a sex act. He also said someone “sounds too Jewish” and “too militaristic”. In other alleged messages that were later revealed, Mr described a constituent as “an illiterate r*****” and a fellow councillor as a “fat middle aged useless thicket”.
Mr Ryan, the Burnley MP, admitted making “unacceptable” comments in the WhatsApp chat on Sunday night. He apologised for his offensive remarks and said he regrets making them after it was reported he was a leading member of the group, having posted more than 2,000 messages. Leaked messages showed Mr Ryan, who is openly gay, appearing to mock an MP and suggest he was gay and call a local labour leader “Colin C*mface”.
It also emerged that Labour had been reportedly warned about the group chat more than a year ago. Gerald Cooney, the ex-Labour leader of Tameside council in Greater Manchester, said he had told party officials multiple times about the group.
After 11 councillors were suspended on Tuesday night, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “As part of our WhatsApp group investigation, a group of councillors have been administratively suspended from the Labour Party.
“As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was launched in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures and this process is ongoing. Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.”
After three of its councillors quit on Monday, a spokesperson for Tameside Labour said: “Following reports over the weekend of messages shared in a historic WhatsApp group, councillors Reid, Naylor and Newton have decided to step away from their executive duties at Tameside Council whilst an investigation by the Labour Party is underway.”
In a statement posted on Twitter/X on Sunday, Mr Ryan said: “I did not see every message, but I accept responsibility for not being more proactive in challenging what was said. I also made some comments myself which I deeply regret and would not make today and for that, I wholeheartedly apologise. I will co-operate fully with the Labour Party’s investigation.”
In a statement posted to Twitter on Saturday night, Mr Gwynne said: “I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offence I’ve caused. I’ve served the Labour Party all my life and it was a huge honour to be appointed a minister by Keir Starmer. I entirely understand the decisions the PM and the party have taken and, while very sad to have been suspended, will support them in any way I can.”
Asked if the Prime Minister expected ministers to call out derogatory remarks in WhatsApp groups, Mr Starmer’s official spokesman told reporters on Monday: “He’s made clear… his determination to uphold high standards of conduct in public office and lead Government in service of working people. You saw the statement over the weekend, and he will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has done in this case.”
The Mirror has contacted the 11 councillors for comment.
Full list of councillors:
The Mirror understands the councillors suspended from Labour are:
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Cllr Claire Reid, Tameside Council
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Cllr Jack Naylor, Tameside Council
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Cllr George Newton, Tameside Council
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Cllr Vincent Ricci, Tameside Council
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Cllr Charlotte Martin, Tameside Council
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Cllr Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council
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Cllr George Jones, Tameside Council
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Cllr Brenda Warrington, Tameside Council
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Cllr Denise Ward, Tameside Council
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Cllr David Sedgwick, Stockport Council
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Cllr Holly McCormack, Stockport Council
