Second Labour MP in WhatsApp chat scandal apologises for ‘unacceptable’ messages

A Labour MP has said he “regrets not speaking out at the time” about “unacceptable” comments in a Whatsapp chat a former minister was sacked over.

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan said he was a member of the group conversation that Andrew Gwynne lost his role over and said “I also made some comments myself which I deeply regret”.

He added: “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.”

A Government source said: “Oliver Ryan’s remarks were unacceptable and deeply disappointing.

“While a Labour Party investigation is already under way, the chief whip will also be speaking to him and no action is off the table.”

An independent councillor in Tameside said earlier today he has “formally lodged a complaint” with Greater Manchester Police against Gwynne, who was sacked by Keir Starmer after a string of offensive WhatsApp messages emerged.

Kaleel Khan said he had made the complaint in relation to what he alleged were “hate incidents and hate crime” involving Gwynne, The Telegraph reports.

It comes after the Mail on Sunday published a series of messages apparently sent by the parliamentarian in a group chat, including comments about fellow Labour MPs.

In one message, the MP for Gorton and Denton said he hoped a 72-year-old woman who asked about bin collections was dead before the next election, the paper claimed.

The Stockport resident had written to her local councillor saying she hadn’t voted Labour, but added: “As you have been re-elected I thought it would be an appropriate time to contact you with regard to the bin collections.”

After the councillor shared the letter among fellow Labour figures in the WhatsApp group, Gwynne allegely wrote a suggested response, reading: “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.”

All-outs are council elections at which every council seat is contested at once, unlike local authorities where only a third of seats are up for grabs at each election.

The newspaper claimed Gwynne also joked about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck, and allegedly posted a sexist Tweet about Angela Rayner and made racist remarks about Labour MP Diane Abbott.

And he also allegedly responded to a message containing the name of an American psychologist, Marshall Rosenberg, saying he sounded “too militaristic and too Jewish”, adding “Is he in Mossad?”.

The Mail on Sunday alleged that the messages were posted a WhatsApp group called Trigger Me Timbers, which included more than a dozen Labour councillors, party officials and at least one other MP.

Gwynne offered an apology on X but didn’t say whether he would be standing down as an MP.

“I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offence I’ve caused,” he wrote. “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,” Gwynne added.

A Government spokesperson 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.”

Labour said an investigation is under way.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook could not say if others in the chat will be suspended, but suggested the Prime Minister could take action based on what the investigation finds.

Great Manchester Police has been approached for comment.