A Labour Minister has been dismissed following the exposure of racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic messages, including one despicable post in which he wished for the death of a pensioner who did not vote Labour before the next election.
Andrew Gwynne also made offensive comments about Jewish people and joked about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck in a WhatsApp group.
The Prime Minister removed Mr. Gwynne from his position as Health Minister and suspended his Labour Party membership after learning of the messages yesterday.
A government spokesperson stated: “The Prime Minister is committed to maintaining high standards of conduct in public office and leading a government that serves the people. He will take decisive action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as demonstrated in this case.”
One particularly disturbing comment from the MP for Gorton and Denton involved a 72-year-old woman who had written to her local councillor about her bins. The resident, who had not voted Labour, had said: “As you have been re-elected, I thought it would be an appropriate time to contact you regarding the bin collections.”
When the councillor shared the letter in the WhatsApp group, Mr. Gwynne suggested a response: “Dear resident, FUCK your bins. I’m re-elected and without your vote. Screw you. PS: Hopefully you’ll have croaked it by the all-outs.“
The messages were exchanged in a group named “Trigger Me Timbers,” which Mr. Gwynne shares with Labour councillors, officials, and at least one other MP from the outskirts of Manchester. The Mail on Sunday accessed thousands of messages from the group, which was created in 2019, revealing a pattern of offensive language and behavior. Among the messages:
Mr. Gwynne also made anti-Semitic comments. In a discussion about a Labour meeting in Reddish, a group member asked whether Marshall Rosenberg would be attending, referring to a late American psychologist. Mr. Gwynne replied: “No. He sounds too militaristic and too Jewish. Is he in Mossad?”
In 2018, Mr. Gwynne was implicated in a Facebook group called “Labour Supporters,” where anti-Semitic content was shared. He claimed at the time he was added to the group without his knowledge and vehemently rejected the posts. However, months later, he participated in anti-Semitic “banter” within the WhatsApp group, including mocking those who found it inappropriate. One message he posted read: “Geoffrey the Giraffe says don’t be nasty to the Jews.“
Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Anti-Semitism, criticized Mr. Gwynne’s comments, saying, “This so-called ‘banter’ about Jews was unnecessary and unpleasant. The idea of Jews as disloyal infiltrators crosses the line into classic anti-Jewish racism.”
Additionally, Mr. Gwynne made racially insensitive remarks about Diane Abbott, the first black woman to represent Labour at Prime Minister’s Questions in 2019. When asked if her appearance at PMQs was a “joke,” Mr. Gwynne dismissed it, saying it was “because it’s Black History Month apparently.” He later joked about other black MPs, including suggesting a corpse could be an alternative to Abbott.
Bishop Desmond Jadoo, a black campaigner, condemned the remarks, stating that prominent black figures like Diane Abbott should not face such offensive comments.
Angela Rayner, the Deputy Labour Leader, was also mocked by the group. After she faced criticism for using taxpayer money to buy £249 Apple wireless headphones, Mr. Gwynne shared a tweet from a parody account making inappropriate remarks.
Mr. Gwynne also made disturbing comments about a constituent, saying he “had positive visions of him getting mown down by an Elsa Waste HGV while he’s cycling to the Fallowfield Loop.”
In 2019, he mocked Colin Bailey, a senior Labour figure in Tameside, using offensive language in reference to him.
Nigel Huddleston MP, co-chairman of the Conservative Party, condemned the comments, stating, “These comments are sickening. It is shameful that a Labour Minister thinks it is appropriate to wish for the death of one of his own constituents.”
David Sedgwick, the councillor who shared the pensioner’s letter, also criticized Mr. Gwynne, calling his comments “totally not acceptable.”
Mr. Gwynne, who has been involved in politics since 1996 and was appointed Minister for Public Health and Prevention in 2024, had previously championed issues related to female pensioners, including advocating for those impacted by pension age changes. However, his personal conduct has now come under serious scrutiny.
The Labour Party announced Mr. Gwynne’s suspension and said they would investigate his actions in line with the party’s rules and procedures. They promised swift action if any members are found to have violated the expected high standards of behavior.
The Labour Party’s swift suspension of Andrew Gwynne has sparked further debate on the party’s commitment to eradicating toxic behavior within its ranks. While the leadership has acted to address the severity of his actions, critics argue that it highlights deeper issues of inappropriate conduct within some parts of the party.
Many have raised concerns about the persistence of such offensive behavior within Labour’s internal communications, calling for broader reforms and more stringent measures to tackle similar instances in the future. The revelations have cast a shadow over Mr. Gwynne’s political career, and questions have been raised about how such behavior was able to continue unnoticed for so long, despite his position within the party.
Those affected by his comments, including party members and the public, have expressed shock and disappointment at the lack of accountability in previous years. Labour officials and members have reiterated their commitment to maintaining high standards and fostering an environment of respect and inclusivity.
As the investigation into Mr. Gwynne’s conduct progresses, Labour Party leaders will likely face increased pressure to demonstrate their commitment to tackling toxic behavior head-on, ensuring that such appalling conduct does not continue to tarnish the party’s reputation.
Additionally, some observers have pointed out the need for more robust training and awareness within the party to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. With heightened attention on issues like anti-Semitism and racism within British politics, it is becoming increasingly important for all political parties to take decisive action in dealing with such issues in order to rebuild public trust.
The scandal surrounding Mr. Gwynne serves as a reminder that while political leaders may champion social justice and equality, they must also embody these values in their personal conduct and interactions within their own party. Until there is accountability for his actions, questions about the Labour Party’s handling of such behavior will likely continue to linger.
Here is a detailed list of all the offensive comments made by Andrew Gwynne, as detailed in the article:
- Wishing for the death of a pensioner:
- Mr. Gwynne suggested that a 72-year-old woman who had written to her local councillor about bin collections (and had not voted Labour) should “hopefully have croaked it by the all-outs.” This comment was made in response to the woman asking about bin collections following her local councillor’s re-election.
- Anti-Semitic remarks:
- In a discussion about a Labour meeting in Reddish, a group member asked whether Marshall Rosenberg would be attending. Mr. Gwynne responded: “No. He sounds too militaristic and too Jewish. Is he in Mossad?” This remark reinforced the anti-Semitic trope of Jewish people being involved in espionage.
- Mocking Jews with a “banter” comment:
- After having previously been part of a Facebook group that shared anti-Semitic content, Mr. Gwynne participated in mocking “banter” about Jewish people in the WhatsApp group. One of his messages was: “Geoffrey the Giraffe says don’t be nasty to the Jews,” referencing the Toys R Us mascot in an apparent mockery of the idea of not being offensive toward Jews.
- Racially insensitive remarks about Diane Abbott:
- When Diane Abbott became the first black woman to represent Labour at Prime Minister’s Questions in 2019, Mr. Gwynne mocked the historical moment. A group member asked if the appearance was a “joke,” to which Mr. Gwynne responded, “because it’s Black History Month apparently.”
- He also added a response to another group member’s suggestion of black Labour MPs: “Or Desmond Swayne? Justin Trudeau??” referring to two figures embroiled in racism scandals involving blackface.
- Jokes about black Labour MPs:
- When discussing other black Labour MPs, a councillor joked: “Was David Lammy not available? I’d also take the corpse of Bernie Grant.” Mr. Gwynne did not condemn the remark and added further racially insensitive comments.
- Mocking Angela Rayner:
- In March 2021, after Angela Rayner faced criticism for claiming £249 Apple wireless headphones on Parliamentary expenses, Mr. Gwynne reposted a tweet from a parody account that made an inappropriate joke about her background in a crude and offensive manner. The tweet read: “I don’t see what the problem is. It’s literally impossible to give a blow*** while wearing wired headphones. Anyone with a similar background to Angela would understand this.”
- Wishing harm on a constituent (Nick) over cycle lanes:
- When discussing a constituent named Nick who had asked for more cycle lanes, Mr. Gwynne responded with a disturbing comment: “I had positive visions of him getting mown down by an Elsa Waste HGV while he’s cycling to the Fallowfield Loop. We couldn’t be that lucky!” This comment suggested harm coming to the constituent.
- Offensive language about Colin Bailey, a senior Labour figure:
- Mr. Gwynne made derogatory comments about Colin Bailey, the vice-chair of the Audenshaw Labour branch, calling him “Colin Cmface.” Later, he asked, “Can we post the Colin Cmface Tory supporting tweets now?” This was directed at a fellow party member, seemingly in an attempt to ridicule him.
These comments reflect the deeply troubling nature of the offensive language Mr. Gwynne used in private communications with other Labour members, councillors, and officials. They involve a range of offensive behaviors, including racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, and gross disrespect towards party colleagues and constituents.
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