ELEVEN Labour councillors have been suspended from the party as part of its investigation into a WhatsApp group containing offensive messages that led to a minister being sacked from the frontbench.
It is understood most of the councillors are part of Tameside Council while two are members of Stockport Council and include Andrew Gwynne’s wife, Allison Gwynne.
Andrew Gwynne was sacked at the weekend as the party’s health minister for “badly misjudged” comments he reportedly posted in the group.
On Monday Oliver Ryan (below), who was elected to represent the Burnley constituency last summer, was the second Labour MP suspended for his inclusion in the WhatsApp group.
The Labour Party confirmed Ryan had the whip removed and will now sit as an independent MP in the Commons.
On the suspension of the 11 councillors, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “As part of our WhatsApp group investigation, a group of councillors have been administratively suspended from the Labour Party.
“As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was launched in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures and this process is ongoing.
“Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.”
Sky News said it understands that the following councillors have now been suspended from the party:
- Councillor Claire Reid
- Councillor Jack Naylor
- Councillor George Newton
- Councillor Vincent Ricci
- Councillor Charlotte Martin
- Councillor Allison Gwynne
- Councillor George Jones
- Councillor Brenda Warrington
- Councillor Denise Ward
- Councillor David Sedgwick (Stockport Council)
