UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, was reportedly informed in 2022 about offensive messages made by Andrew Gwynne in a WhatsApp chat.
As reported by the Guardian, around three years ago, Ms Rayner was notified that sacked health minister Andrew Gwynne had shared a “derogatory” joke about her in a controversial WhatsApp group.
Was Angela Rayner aware of the offensive message about her in 2022?
Ms Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, was separately informed by two local councillors about the inappropriate message from Mr Gwynne, her MP in Greater Manchester.
A source claimed that the Deputy Prime Minister, now, at that time, deputy leader of the opposition, was presented with Gwynne’s offensive post by a Labour councillor who found it repulsive. Ms Rayner allegedly responded, “I’ll deal with it in my own time.”
It is believed that Ms Rayner has no recollection of viewing the image, but she does not deny being informed about the personal comments made regarding her.
No evidence reveals that she was aware of the racist and homophobic remarks before the Mail reported on Sunday.
How did the Labour spokesperson respond to the Whatsapp scandal?
A Labour Party spokesperson stated,
“As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was immediately launched and this process is ongoing in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures.”
He continued,
“Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.”
Did the Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds know about Gwynne’s offensive messages?
According to reports, Jonathan Reynolds was informed by Gerald Cooney, then leader of the Tameside council, that Gwynne had made offensive remarks about Ms Rayner, but it is believed no further details were shared.
The fact that concerns about a senior politician’s unprofessional comments were voiced multiple times raises doubts about whether Labour could have taken action sooner.
Labour sources said no formal complaint was filed regarding the WhatsApp group “Trigger Me Timbers.” However, concerns were raised amid Gwynne’s involvement in local party matters.
Which MPs were sacked by Labour over the WhatsApp group?
Andrew Gwynne’s messages revealed this week, in which he hoped for a 72-year-old non-Labour voter to “croak it” before the next election, and imagined a local cycling activist being ‘mowed down’ by a truck, adding, “We couldn’t be that lucky.”
He was dismissed from his ministerial role and suspended from the Labour Party and issued an apology on Saturday on X, “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 deeply regret my badly misjudged commments and apologise for any offense 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. 1/2
— Andrew Gwynne MP (@GwynneMP) February 8, 2025
Another MP for Burnley, Oliver Ryan, faced suspension following the revelation of sexist and racist posts on Saturday. He expressed his apology over his participation in the alleged WhatsApp group.
How many councillors have been suspended from the Labour Party over allegations of a WhatsApp group chat?
11 councillors, along with Allison Gwynne, the wife of Andrew Gwynne, and his senior caseworker, Claire Reid, have been removed.
Reid, who is on Labour’s national policy forum, created the “Trigger Me Timbers” group in January 2019.
How did MPs respond to the Labour Whatsapp group scandal?
Richard Holden, Tory shadow paymaster general stated, “With hateful remarks from senior Labour figures, Sir Keir Starmer must make addressing this his top priority.”
Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, described the language used by the MP in the messages as “completely unacceptable” and, in some cases, “extremely troubling.”