UK Health Minister Andrew Gwynne has apologised for “badly misjudged” WhatsApp messages after he was sacked by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The MP for Gorton and Denton was also suspended from the Labour Party after the Mail on Sunday reported he had sent a string of offensive and abusive messages, insulting constituents, fellow MPs and councillors.
A government spokesperson said Sir Keir “is determined to uphold high standards of those in public office” and “will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case”.
Gwynne said on X that he understood the prime minister and Labour’s decision, and “while very sad to have been suspended, will support them in any way I can”.
A Labour spokesperson said Gwynne has been “administratively suspended” as a party member as it investigates “comments made in this WhatsApp group in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures”.
“Swift action will be taken if individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members,” the spokesperson added.
In messages seen by the Mail, Gwynne said he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon be dead after she wrote to her local councillor about bin collections.
The councillor shared the woman’s letter with Gwynne and other Labour figures in a WhatsApp group called Trigger Me Timbers, the newspaper reported.
The newspaper said he also joked about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck.
Gwynne also reportedly posted sexist comments about Angela Rayner, and racist remarks about Labour MP Diane Abbott.
The Conservatives said the messages showed there is a “rot” in the party that “needs fixing”.
“There is a clear contempt for pensioners in the Labour Party,” said Tory party co-chair Nigel Huddleston.
“Andrew Gwynne should not remain a member of the Labour Party – they need to act.”
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