The Labour MP Oliver Ryan has been suspended by the party over his membership and comments on a WhatsApp group that featured offensive messages, including alleged racism and sexism.
The party took action against the Burnley MP after the emergence of details about the Trigger Me Timbers group, mainly involving a group of councillors and party activists in Greater Manchester.
A Labour spokesperson said: “As part of our WhatsApp group investigation, Oliver Ryan has been administratively suspended as a member of the Labour party.
“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. Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour party members.”
Ryan met Labour’s chief whip, Alan Campbell, on Monday afternoon. Being suspended from the party means he automatically loses the Labour whip in the Commons.
On Sunday, Ryan posted on X that some of the comments made in the WhatsApp group were “completely unacceptable” and said he fully condemned them.
“I regret not speaking out at the time, and I recognise that failing to do so was wrong,” he said.
“I did not see every message, but I accept responsibility for not being more proactive in challenging what was said.
“I also made some comments myself which I deeply regret and would not make today and for that, I wholeheartedly apologise.”
Andrew Gwynne was sacked as public health minister on Saturday and also lost the whip after it was reported that he used the group to joke about hoping an older constituent who had complained about bin collections would die before the next election, and to make comments about Angela Rayner, Diane Abbott and others.
Keir Starmer sacked the Gorton and Denton MP after his party was presented with the messages by the Mail on Sunday.
Asked if the prime minister expected ministers to call out derogatory remarks, his official spokesperson told reporters: “His determination is to uphold high standards of conduct in public office and lead government in service of working people … He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has done in this case.”
Greater Manchester police said a non-crime hate incident had been recorded relating to “publicised messages allegedly from a WhatsApp group”, and that officers had been in touch with its parliamentary liaison as part of inquiries.
A non-crime hate incident is a record kept by forces of speech or actions deemed hostile to characteristics such as race, sex or disability.
