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| Labour suspends 11 councillors during WhatsApp group probe | Labour suspends 11 councillors during WhatsApp group probe |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Labour has suspended 11 councillors in Greater Manchester as part of an investigation into a WhatsApp group where offensive messages were shared. | Labour has suspended 11 councillors in Greater Manchester as part of an investigation into a WhatsApp group where offensive messages were shared. |
| The group, revealed by the Mail on Sunday over the weekend, has already led to the suspension of two Labour MPs in the region. | The group, revealed by the Mail on Sunday over the weekend, has already led to the suspension of two Labour MPs in the region. |
| Gorton and Denton MP Andrew Gwynne was suspended on Saturday, admitting he had made "badly misjudged" comments. He was also sacked as a health minister. | Gorton and Denton MP Andrew Gwynne was suspended on Saturday, admitting he had made "badly misjudged" comments. He was also sacked as a health minister. |
| Burnley MP Oliver Ryan was then suspended on Monday, saying earlier that he had made comments "which I deeply regret". | Burnley MP Oliver Ryan was then suspended on Monday, saying earlier that he had made comments "which I deeply regret". |
| It is understood that the suspensions – from Tameside and Stockport councils – relate to alleged membership of the group, named Trigger Me Timbers, which was set up to co-ordinate Labour's campaigning in the local area. | |
| It is not clear why the councillors have been suspended and Labour has not presented evidence the councillors posted offensive messages. | |
| They include Allison Gwynne, Andrew Gwynne's wife, who is a councillor on Tameside council, and Brenda Warrington, its former leader. | They include Allison Gwynne, Andrew Gwynne's wife, who is a councillor on Tameside council, and Brenda Warrington, its former leader. |
| A Labour Party spokesperson said: "As part of our WhatsApp group investigation, a group of councillors have been administratively suspended from the Labour Party. | 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. | "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." | "Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members." |
| MP suspensions | MP suspensions |
| Andrew Gwynne said in a statement after his sacking on Saturday night he regretted his comments, and apologised for "any offence caused". | |
| In messages seen by the Mail on Sunday, he had said he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon be dead after she wrote to her local councillor about bin collections. | |
| The newspaper said Gwynne also joked about a constituent being "mown down" by a truck. | The newspaper said Gwynne also joked about a constituent being "mown down" by a truck. |
| Ryan's messages were sent before he was elected as an MP but were reported in the Daily Mail on Sunday evening. | Ryan's messages were sent before he was elected as an MP but were reported in the Daily Mail on Sunday evening. |
| They appear to show Ryan mocking another Labour MP for his sexuality, and denigrating the vice-chairman of the local Labour Party. | They appear to show Ryan mocking another Labour MP for his sexuality, and denigrating the vice-chairman of the local Labour Party. |
| In his statement, Ryan said: "I did not see every message, but I accept responsibility for not being more proactive in challenging what was said. | In his statement, Ryan 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." | "I also made some comments myself which I deeply regret and would not make today and for that, I wholeheartedly apologise." |
| The BBC understands the councillors suspended from Labour are: | |
| Cllr Claire Reid, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr Jack Naylor, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr George Newton, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr Vincent Ricci, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr Charlotte Martin, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr Allison Gwynne, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr George Jones, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr Brenda Warrington, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr Denise Ward, Tameside Council | |
| Cllr David Sedgwick, Stockport Council | |
| Cllr Holly McCormack, Stockport Council | |
| The BBC has approached the councillors for comment. |