Labour suspends 11 councillors over WhatsApp group

Labour has suspended 11 councillors in Greater Manchester as part of an investigation into a WhatsApp group where offensive messages were shared.

The group, revealed by the Mail on Sunday over the weekend, has already led to the suspension of two Labour MPs in the region.

Gorton and Denton MP Andrew Gwynne was suspended on Saturday, admitting he had made "badly misjudged" comments. He was also sacked as a health minister.

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan was then suspended on Monday, saying earlier that he had made comments "which I deeply regret".

It is understood that the suspensions – from Tameside and Stockport councils – relate to alleged membership of the group, named Trigger Me Timbers, which was set up to co-ordinate Labour's campaigning in the local area.

It is not clear why the councillors have been suspended and Labour has not presented evidence the councillors posted offensive messages.

They include Allison Gwynne, Andrew Gwynne's wife, who is a councillor on Tameside council, and Brenda Warrington, its former leader.

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."

Andrew Gwynne said in a statement after his sacking on Saturday night he regretted his comments, and apologised for "any offence caused".

In messages seen by the Mail on Sunday, he had said he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon be dead after she wrote to her local councillor about bin collections.

The newspaper said Gwynne also joked about a constituent being "mown down" by a truck.

Ryan's messages were sent before he was elected as an MP but were reported in the Daily Mail on Sunday evening.

They appear to show Ryan mocking another Labour MP for his sexuality, and denigrating the vice-chairman of the local Labour Party.

In his statement, Ryan said: "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."

The BBC understands the councillors suspended from Labour are:

• Cllr Claire Reid, Tameside Council
• Cllr Jack Naylor, Tameside Council
• Cllr George Newton, Tameside Council
• Cllr Vincent Ricci, Tameside Council
• Cllr Charlotte Martin, Tameside Council
• Cllr Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council
• Cllr George Jones, Tameside Council
• Cllr Brenda Warrington, Tameside Council
• Cllr Denise Ward, Tameside Council
• Cllr David Sedgwick, Stockport Council
• Cllr Holly McCormack, Stockport Council

The BBC has approached the councillors for comment.