Health minister Andrew Gwynne sacked over WhatsApp messages

Labour MP Andrew Gwynne has expressed regret over his "badly misjudged" comments in a WhatsApp group, which led to his sacking as health minister and suspension from the Labour Party.

The comments, made in a closed group chat with Labour figures in Manchester, included sexist remarks about Angela Rayner, racist comments about Diane Abbott, and a joke about an elderly woman's death.After the comments came to light, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dismissed Mr Gwynne as a minister.

Mr Gwynne apologised on X, stating: "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."He also expressed understanding for the party's decision to suspend him, saying he would support them in any way possible.The WhatsApp group, called Trigger Me Timbers, included over a dozen Labour councillors, party officials, and at least one other MP.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Gwynne made antisemitic comments, joked about a constituent being "mown down" by a truck, and wrote that he hoped a 72 year old woman would soon have "croaked it" after she inquired about her bins.A Government spokesperson emphasised the Prime Minister's commitment to integrity stating: "The Prime Minister is determined to uphold high standards of conduct in public office and lead a government in the service of working people," and added, "He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case."Meanwhile, Labour responded on the situation involving one of their own, with a spokesperson declaring: "Andrew Gwynne has been administratively suspended as a member of the Labour