Labour suspends 11 councillors over WhatsApp group

The Labour Party in the UK has suspended 11 councillors in the Greater Manchester area due to allegations of sharing offensive messages in a WhatsApp group. The group, named "Trigger Me Timbers," was reportedly intended to coordinate Labour's local campaign efforts. This incident follows the suspension of two Labour councillors in the same region earlier.

Andrew Gwynne, councillor for the Gorton and Denton ward, was suspended on Saturday after admitting to making statements that demonstrated "serious errors of judgement," leading to his removal from his role as a shadow health minister. Oliver Ryan, councillor for the Burnley ward, was suspended on Monday after stating that he had made comments he "deeply regrets."

The suspensions reportedly involve councillors from the Tameside and Stockport councils, including Andrew Gwynne's wife, Tameside councillor Allison Gwynne, and former speaker Brenda Warrington. The specific reasons for the councillors' suspensions remain unclear, and the Labour Party has not provided evidence indicating that these councillors posted offensive messages.

A Labour Party spokesperson stated: "A number of councillors have been administratively suspended as part of our investigation into a WhatsApp group. As soon as we were made aware of this group, we immediately launched a full investigation in accordance with Labour's rules and procedures, and that process is ongoing. We will always take swift action against anyone who falls below the high standards we expect of Labour members."

According to information disclosed by *The Mail on Sunday*, Andrew Gwynne allegedly stated that he hoped a 72-year-old woman would die soon because she had written to local councillors about garbage collection issues. The newspaper also claimed that Gwynne joked about a voter being "knocked down" by a truck. Ryan's messages, sent before he was elected as a councillor, appeared to mock another Labour councillor's sexual orientation and denigrate the local Labour deputy chair. Ryan stated that he did not see every message, but admitted that he did not more actively challenge what was said and deeply regretted and apologized for some of his comments.

According to the BBC, the councillors suspended by the Labour Party include: Cllr Claire Reid, Cllr Jack Naylor, Cllr George Newton, Cllr Vincent Ricci, Cllr Charlotte Martin, Cllr Allison Gwynne, Cllr George Jones, Cllr Brenda Warrington, Cllr Denise Ward (all from Tameside Council), and Cllr David Sedgwick and Cllr Holly McCormack (both from Stockport Council). The BBC has contacted these councillors for comment.