Eleven Labour councillors have been suspended by the party for being members of a WhatsApp group containing offensive messages.
It is understood the councillors are from Tameside Council and Stockport Council. Former council leader Brenda Warrington, and Claire Reid, a member of Labour’s national policy forum, are believed to be among those administratively suspended.
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.”
It comes after the party sacked health minister Andrew Gwynne over thousands of messages he reportedly posted in the “Trigger Me Timbers” groupchat between 2019 and 2022. The MP for Gorton and Denton in Greater Manchester was also suspended from the Labour Party.
The Mail On Sunday first reported that the MP had sent messages to the group including a joke about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck.
He also said hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon die after she asked a councillor about bin collections, according to the paper.
Mr Gwynne said he deeply regretted his “badly misjudged comments” and apologised for “any offence caused”.
It iss believed his wife Allison Gwynne, a Tameside councillor, was also in the group and has now been suspended.
Ashley Dalton, the MP for West Lancashire, has been appointed as a minister at the Department of Health and Social Care following on from Mr Gwynne’s departure.
Labour then suspended Burnley MP Oliver Ryan for comments he made in the group.
The Daily Mail reported that Mr Ryan appeared to mock a fellow Labour MP over his sexuality in exchanges in the group.
“I did not see every message, but I accept responsibility for not being more proactive in challenging what was said,” Mr Ryan said.
“I also made some comments myself which I deeply regret and would not make today and for that, I wholeheartedly apologise.”
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