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Sir Keir Starmer is facing calls to widen his party’s investigation into allegations of offensive messages on a WhatsApp group, which has already led to the sacking of former health minister Andrew Gwynne.
It came as Burnley MP Oliver Ryan admitted to being a member of the Whatsapp group where Gwynne made the offensive comments and issued an apology for not speaking out.
Mr Gwynne, the 50-year-old MP for Gorton and Denton has also been suspended from the party after it was claimed he posted a number of “antisemitic”, “sexist” and “racist” messages on a group named Trigger Me Timbers.
While Mr Gwynne has apologised and is now being investigated, there are concerns another Labour MP and councillors, thought to have been members of the group, were also involved or failed to report the comments.
Mr Ryan said: “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 co-operate fully with the Labour Party’s investigation.”
The Tories on Sunday evening demanded the investigation be widened.
Richard Holden, the Tory shadow paymaster general, said: “With hateful remarks being spewed by such senior Labour figures, getting to the bottom of this situation should be Sir Keir Starmer’s top priority.
“Sir Keir should not hide behind process to delay action, especially with concerns that there were more Members of Parliament, councillors and Labour members involved.”
In one message, seen by the Mail on Sunday, Mr Gwynne allegedly wrote a mock reply to a complaint from a 72-year-old constituent.
He is said to have written: “Dear resident, F*** your bins. I’m re-elected and without your vote. Screw you. PS: Hopefully you’ll have croaked it by the all-outs.”
He is also accused of making racist comments about veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott, and sexist comments about deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, the paper claimed.
When members of the WhatsApp group asked if Marshall Rosenberg, a conflict resolution expert, would attend a local Labour party meeting, Mr Gwynne reportedly said: “No. He sounds too militaristic and too Jewish. Is he in Mossad?
Labour’s housing minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed there will be an investigation, but could not say if others in the chat would be suspended by the party.
“I don’t know, personally, what other people on that WhatsApp conversation have said. I’ve been very clear, there’s an investigation taking place into the whole incident,” he told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News.
He added: “What the public can take from the way the prime minister has acted decisively in this case to dismiss Andrew Gwynne is that if any other Labour MP or minister falls short he will act to uphold the highest standards in public office.”
The language Mr Gwynne reportedly used in messages is “completely unacceptable” and “in some instances, it’s deeply concerning”, Mr Pennycook added.
Asked about alleged antisemitic remarks made in the WhatsApp group, he said: “An investigation is taking place, and any action that needs to follow from that investigation will be seen through.
“I don’t think anyone can be in any doubt about this prime minister or this government’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in public office and to rooting out antisemitism from the Labour Party, root and branch.”
Mr Gwynne was one of the few close allies of Jeremy Corbyn to survive the change of leadership.
In a statement 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.”
Burnley MP Oliver Ryan says he was a member of the WhatsApp chat group over which Andrew Gwynne was sacked as a minister and apologised for comments he regrets making in the group.
He said: “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 co-operate fully with the Labour Party’s investigation.”
