ANDREW Gwynne MP’s fall from grace may have repercussions at a local level as Tameside councillors could be caught up in his message controversy.
Denton’s political representative was sacked from his position as a health minister by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and suspended from the Labour Party after WhatsApp comments were exposed by the Mail on Sunday newspaper.
Now The Correspondent understands the front page story may have sent local representatives scrambling amid fears they may be implicated.
And the announcement of a probe into the group, which housing minister Matthew Pennycook said would “determine the extent of the problem,” could also raise tension.
It is believed the Trigger Me Timbers WhatsApp group the messages – which included seemingly sexist and racist remarks, as well as other derogatory terms – appeared in has all nine sitting Denton councillors among its more than 40 participants.
And those among the group – including current Tameside Council cabinet members Cllrs Claire Reid, Allison Gwynne – who is chair of the overview panel, and Jack Naylor – may now be reviewing their actions.
Denton councillors also occupy senior positions on committees, with Denise Ward chair of Speaker’s Panel (Liquor Licensing), Vincent Ricci chair of Speaker’s Panel (Planning) and Brenda Warrington chair of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Panel.
It is believed members of Stockport Council are also involved in the WhatsApp group, which dates to when Mr Gwynne was MP for Denton and Reddish before the boundary changed to Gorton and Denton.
And while the party probe may bring further repercussions, Mr Pennycook was in no doubt about his thoughts.
He added: “I was shocked and amazed when I read some of the quotes.
“It is unacceptable and people can take from how we’ve acted our seriousness in terms of upholding the highest standards in public office.
“The Prime Minister has been very clear this is going to be a government in service to working people, we are going to maintain those highest standards.
“He’s acted decisively to dismiss Mr Gwynne from his ministerial office, the Labour Party has also suspended him and remove the whip from him, so that’s a mark of the seriousness with which we are taking this, it is completely unacceptable to make any comments of that kind.
“Talking in those terms is completely unacceptable, we are very clear about that. People should call out that type of language.
“I don’t know the details about who’s on it, I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment even if I did when that live investigation is happening.
“But Andrew Gwynne, we know what was said, and many of the transcripts have been released, he’s not only been dismissed as minister but had his membership of the Labour Party suspended and the whip suspended in the Commons, so no longer sits as a Labour MP.”
The furore over the comments, described by Mr Gwynne as ‘badly misjudged,’ has been pounced on by political opponents.
And Conservative minister Alex Burghart demanded full disclosure of the WhatsApp group.
The Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: “We need to know who else was on that group.
“Did they call Andrew Gwynne out when he said that? If not, what sanctions are going to be taken against them?”