Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as a minister and suspended from the Labour Party following revelations of offensive and derogatory remarks made in a private WhatsApp group. The party launched an investigation into the matter, and Gwynne has since apologized for his 'badly misjudged' comments. Calls for his resignation as an MP have intensified, with a petition garnering significant support. Meanwhile, Burnley MP Oliver Ryan, also involved in the group, has also been suspended from the Labour Party. Reform UK has vowed to pursue recall petitions in both seats, demanding full disclosure about the group's membership and content.
Andrew Gwynne , the Labour MP for Gorton and Denton, has been sacked as a minister and suspended from the Labour Party following controversial comments made in a WhatsApp group. Gwynne has been accused of making antisemitic, sexist, and racist remarks in the group, titled 'Trigger Me Timbers'. He has also faced criticism for joking about wishing a pensioner dead, according to the Mail on Sunday.
In response to the allegations, Gwynne has issued a public apology, acknowledging that his comments were 'badly misjudged' and expressing regret for any offense caused. Burnley MP and former Tameside councillor Oliver Ryan, who was also involved in the WhatsApp group, has also been suspended from the Labour Party. Both Gwynne and Ryan will sit in Parliament as independents while the Labour Party conducts an investigation into the matter. Calls for Gwynne to resign as an MP and trigger a by-election have intensified, with a petition demanding his 'immediate resignation' gaining significant traction. However, Labour sources suggest that a resignation is unlikely. This reluctance is partly attributed to concerns that Reform UK, who secured a distant second place in Gorton and Denton during the last general election, could pose a serious threat to Labour in a by-election.Adding weight to these concerns, a recent YouGov poll placed Nigel Farage's Reform UK ahead of Labour nationally. The outcome of the Labour Party's investigation will ultimately determine whether Gwynne and Ryan can be reinstated into the party. Even if they are expelled and remain as independents, they could still face a recall petition. A recall petition could be triggered if 10% of voters in their constituencies sign it. However, this petition would only be valid if the MPs are suspended from the House of Commons for at least 10 sitting days, or if they are sentenced or convicted of certain offences. Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that they have received complaints related to messages allegedly from the WhatsApp group, but they have not disclosed whether a formal investigation is underway. Dan Barker, the Reform UK candidate for Greater Manchester mayor last year, has declared his party's intention to pursue recall petitions in both seats. He has criticized the content of the WhatsApp group and demanded full transparency about its membership and conversations. Barker argues that the severity of the alleged remarks warrants serious consequences, particularly in light of recent cases involving social media posts that led to prison sentences. He believes that the public deserves to know the full extent of the involvement of other individuals in the group
Andrew Gwynne Labour Party Whatsapp Group Antisemitism Sexism Racism Recall Petition By-Election Oliver Ryan Reform UK
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