Labour has launched an urgent investigation into a WhatsApp group in which the Labour MP Andrew Gwynne posted “completely unacceptable” messages, a minister has said.
Gwynne, 50, was sacked as a health minister after reports he shared racist remarks about Diane Abbott and sexist comments about Angela Rayner, and joked about an elderly woman dying before the next election.
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The remarks were posted in a WhatsApp group called Trigger Me Timbers, which reportedly included more than a dozen Labour councillors, party officials and at least one other MP.
The housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, said on Sunday there would be an investigation into the matter – which could result in the suspension of other Labour figures.
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The Mail on Sunday reported that Gwynne’s comments included antisemitic slights and a joke about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck.
He also reportedly wrote in one message that he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon have “croaked it” after she asked a councillor, who shared the message in the group, about her rubbish bins.
Black humour forums. They invariably turn bad as people try to push the boundary, and people are often unaware of how big the circulation is leading them to basically speak publicly when they think they are speaking to small trusted circle.
Personally, I think private communication is private and people should never be held accountable for private thoughts. Even when shared with a family member or friend. It’s why therapy sessions are private. Sometimes we have intrusive thoughts that need to come out in a safe space.
However, if that “trusted circle” grows unchecked and becomes an organisation, it becomes a cancer in that organisation. At what point does it transition from healthy to unhealthy? I couldn’t tell you.
You mean to tell me Labour still has a problem with bigotry, and in particular antisemitism? I’m sure the media will be holding Starmer’s feet to fire over this to the same extent as they did his predecessor
This isn’t specific to any party as I’ve seen countless men up and down the country, from both sides of the political spectrum, with their “cheeky bants” chats full of deeply questionable and offensive content, memes, or “bants”.
It’s a hangover from the days of Lads Mags and men who have never had a friend who isn’t another “lad” like them.
Of course, it’s a rot that is all through society, at every level, to varying degrees. My point is, almost the entire British media was falling over itself to decry Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party as antisemites but now that Keith is in charge so far it’s just “ooh, this might be trouble, but they’ve suspended the perpetrators so good Labour”
As much as the anti corbyn stuff seemed vindictive.
The main accusation was related to delays or perceived non action.
So if we are being honest. The fact that starmer suspended and acted as soon as the posts was known. And is prettymuch immediately looking into further members. Is exactly the response media claimed corbyn should have done.
I may disagree with starmer and much of the corbyn attacks. But cannot see any actual hypocritical media reporting in this specific case.
