Keir Starmer has acted swiftly to remove junior health minister Andrew Gwynne from his role and suspend him from the Labour Party after offensive WhatsApp messages surfaced. The messages, which reportedly insulted constituents and fellow MPs, were described by Gwynne himself as “badly misjudged.”
Following the revelations, Gwynne took to social media platform X to express his regret, acknowledging his mistake and apologising for any offence caused. He admitted he fully understood why the Prime Minister and the party had taken such decisive action.
“I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offence I’ve caused,” he posted. “I entirely understand the decisions the PM and the party have taken and, while very sad to have been suspended, will support them in any way I can.”
A government spokesperson made it clear that Starmer would not tolerate any breaches of conduct within his team. “He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case,” the spokesperson said.
The decision comes at a time when Labour is already facing challenges. After securing a landslide victory in last July’s election, the party has seen a dip in popularity. Starmer’s government has struggled to maintain momentum, with missteps over political donations and the economy drawing criticism.
Andrew Gwynne’s sacking is not the first ministerial resignation under Starmer’s leadership. Tulip Siddiq stepped down as financial services minister just last month after concerns were raised about her financial ties to Sheikh Hasina, the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister who was ousted last year. Siddiq has denied any wrongdoing, but the situation added to the government’s growing list of early controversies.
Similarly, transport minister Louise Haigh resigned in November after admitting to an incident involving a mobile phone she had wrongly reported as stolen before entering government. Although the offence was minor, the resignation highlighted Starmer’s firm stance on accountability within his administration.
With the Labour government still working to solidify its position, Starmer’s swift handling of Gwynne’s case sends a clear message—there will be no room for lapses in judgment under his leadership. However, with public scrutiny intensifying and political rivals watching closely, the pressure is on for Labour to regain control of the narrative and prove that it can deliver on its promises.
