Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton, has been dismissed as health minister by Sir Keir Starmer following reports of racist, sexist, and derogatory messages he sent in a WhatsApp group. The Mail on Sunday alleged that Mr. Gwynne made anti-Semitic slurs, joked about a pensioner's death, and targeted colleagues with sexist and racist remarks. Mr. Gwynne apologized for his 'badly misjudged comments', but Labour housing minister Matthew Pennycook condemned the remarks as 'deeply concerning' and stated that the Prime Minister acted decisively to dismiss Mr. Gwynne. The Labour Party is investigating the WhatsApp group, 'Trigger Me Timbers', and says swift action will be taken against anyone found to have breached party standards.
Andrew Gwynne , the MP for Gorton and Denton, has been sacked as health minister by Sir Keir Starmer after reports emerged of racist, sexist, and derogatory messages he sent in a WhatsApp group including other Labour members. According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr. Gwynne made anti-Semitic slurs and joked about a Stockport pensioner dying before an election after she wrote about bin collections.
He is also accused of targeting colleagues Angela Rayner with sexist comments and Dianne Abbot with racist remarks. The long-standing Tameside politician apologized on Saturday night for what he called 'badly misjudged comments'. Now, Labour housing minister Matthew Pennycook has condemned Mr. Gwynne. He told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'I haven’t seen the details of the specific WhatsApp conversations in question, but the comments that Andrew Gwynne made, let’s be clear, are completely unacceptable. And the Prime Minister has been very clear from day one of this Labour Government that he is determined to uphold the highest standards of public office, determined to be a government that’s in the service of working people. And he’s acted decisively to dismiss Andrew Gwynne for that reason.” Mr. Pennycook also described the remarks made by his colleague as 'in some instances... deeply concerning'. He said that an investigation into the WhatsApp group, reportedly titled Trigger Me Timbers, is taking place. However, Mr. Pennycook could not say if other members in the chat will be suspended, which reportedly included another MP. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart described the remarks as 'nasty' and 'sinister', particularly referencing claims of anti-Semitism in the WhatsApp group. He told Sky News: 'That was a big WhatsApp group with a lot of other Labour members - did any of them step in at the time? Did any of them call that out? That is a very serious remark, and 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.” In a statement on X on Saturday, Mr Gwynne said: 'I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologize for any offense 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.' Mr Gwynne has now been suspended as a member of the Labour party and will sit as an independent MP. A Labour spokesperson told the M.E.N.: 'Andrew Gwynne has been administratively suspended as a member of the Labour Party. We are investigating comments made in this WhatsApp group in line with the Labour Party's rules and procedures. Swift action will be taken if individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.
ANDREW GWYNNE LABOUR PARTY SIR KEIR STARMER RACIST REMARKS SEXIST COMMENTS WHATSAPP GROUP SUSPENSION
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