The Labour WhatsApp investigation, the alleged messages and the MPs involved
Andrew Gwynne has been suspended by Labour for alleged remarks in a WhatsApp group. Burnley MP Oliver Ryan has also been suspended over reported comments in the same chat.
Monday 10 February 2025 16:03, UK
An investigation has been launched into a聽WhatsApp聽group which is said to include more than a dozen Labour councillors and party officials.
Andrew Gwynne was sacked as a health minister by the government after the allegations came to light.
Mr Gwynne was also suspended by the Labour Party for his alleged remarks in the chat.
Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into reported comments by Burnley MP Oliver Ryan in the same WhatsApp group.
Who is Andrew Gwynne?
He is the MP for Gorton and Denton on the outskirts of Manchester.
The 50-year-old has been an MP since 2005 and was appointed as a health minister last summer.
He was previously the campaign chief for Jeremy Corbyn.
What did he reportedly say on WhatsApp?
Mr Gwynne was said to have been part of a WhatsApp chat which contained Labour councillors, party officials and at least one other MP.
According to the Mail On Sunday, Mr Gwynne made racist comments about Labour MP Diane Abbott and sexist remarks about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
He is also reported to have said he hoped a pensioner would soon die after she asked a councillor about bin collections - and to have joked about a constituent being "mown down" by a truck.
What action has been taken?
He has been sacked as a health minister and suspended from the Labour Party.
The prime minister is understood to have dismissed Mr Gwynne as a minister as soon as he became aware of the reported comments.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said an investigation was taking place into the "whole incident".
Mr Gwynne said on social media: "I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offence I've caused."
Who is Oliver Ryan?
Mr Ryan is the Labour MP for Burnley.
The 29-year-old became an MP last July and was previously a Tameside councillor.
What has happened to Mr Ryan?
Mr Ryan is being investigated by the Labour Party over reported comments on the same WhatsApp group.
On 10 February, Labour announced he had also been suspended from the party.
A government source said his alleged remarks were "unacceptable and deeply disappointing".
In a statement on social media, Mr Ryan apologised for comments he said he "would not make today" and would "cooperate fully" with the investigation.
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He added that between 2019 and early 2022, he was a member of a WhatsApp group "created by my MP and former employer, Andrew Gwynne".
Mr Ryan said: "Some of the comments made in that group were completely unacceptable, and I fully condemn them."
A government source has said "no action is off the table" as part of the investigation into the remarks.