A young Labour MP, Oliver Ryan, has been revealed as a member of a WhatsApp group where offensive and discriminatory messages were exchanged, sparking calls for his removal from the party. This follows the dismissal of Health Minister Andrew Gwynne for similar conduct.
A young Labour MP has been revealed as the second Westminster member involved in a WhatsApp group where racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic messages were exchanged. This follows the dramatic sacking of health minister Andrew Gwynne after The Mail on Sunday brought the offensive content to Downing Street's attention on Saturday. Now, it has been uncovered that Oliver Ryan , the 29-year-old MP for Burnley, was another prominent member of the group, having posted over 2,000 messages.
The Daily Mail also reports that Greater Manchester Police are currently assessing a number of complaints filed regarding the group's offensive material.Within the private chat, dubbed 'Trigger Me Timbers,' Mr. Ryan participates in what appears to be homophobic banter, making jokes about a fellow Labour MP's sexual orientation. In a series of posts, Mr. Ryan also makes cruel remarks about a local Labour leader and lifelong lollipop man in Greater Manchester named Colin Bailey. Calls for Mr. Ryan to be stripped of the party whip are growing louder, with the Tories demanding swift action from Sir Keir Starmer.Former party chairman Richard Holden stated, 'With such hateful remarks being spewed, getting to the bottom of this situation should be Sir Keir Starmer's top priority. Sir Keir should not hide behind the process to delay action, especially with concerns that there were more MPs, councillors, and Labour members involved.' Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart added, 'That was a big WhatsApp group with a lot of other Labour members on. Did any of them step in at the time? Did any of them call that out? If the Prime Minister doesn't take action against everyone in that group, very quickly, we know that there is still a problem in the Labour Party.' Last night, Mr. Ryan issued an apology, expressing regret for his comments. He stated, 'Between 2019 and early 2022, I was a member of a WhatsApp group created by my MP and former employer, Andrew Gwynne. Some of the comments made in that group were completely unacceptable, and I fully condemn them. I regret not speaking out at the time, and I recognise that failing to do so was wrong. 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 cooperate fully with the Labour Party's investigation.' Mr. Ryan is a close friend of Mr. Gwynne, who posted messages that included mocking a pensioner for not voting Labour and expressing a wish for her death. Mr. Gwynne was immediately dismissed from his ministerial position and suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation. A No 10 spokesman said, 'The Prime Minister is determined to uphold high standards of conduct in public office. He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case.' Meanwhile, Mr. Ryan, who is himself gay, makes inappropriate comments about a Labour MP, whose identity has been withheld. In February 2019, one member describes the MP as 'a thick posh lazy oaf. Factually correct but lacks pizzazz.
Labour Party Whatsapp Racism Sexism Antisemitism Andrew Gwynne Oliver Ryan Westminster Keir Starmer
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