NINE Tameside councillors are believed to have been suspended from the Labour Party in the wake of the Andrew Gwynne WhatsApp message furore.
The Denton MP was sacked as a health minister following the revelation of statements in the Trigger Me timbers group.
Oliver Ryan, the former Audenshaw councillor who now represents Burnley in Parliament, has joined him in being suspended as an investigation into the group, which saw seemingly sexist, racist, antisemitic and misogynistic comments made, begins.
It is understood all nine sitting Denton councillors were among its 40-plus members.
Now The Correspondent has learned the focus has been turned to local involvement, with a raft thought to have been temporarily barred pending the probe.
Eight of the nine Denton representatives – Cllrs Claire Reid, Jack Naylor, George Newton, Brenda Warrington, George Jones, Denise Ward, Vincent Ricci and Allison Gwynne – are thought to have been told by the party.
Audenshaw’s Charlotte Martin is also believed to have been involved as statements made in the group between 2019 and 2022 are probed.
Denton West’s Mike Smith and Audenshaw Teresa Smith are said to have been cleared as they come under the auspices of a different Constituency Labour Party (CLP).
The other Audenshaw councillor, Nick Axford, was not in position on the dates being focused on.
The Denton South members – Reid, Newton and Naylor, – stepped down from the cabinet positions because of the investigation.
It is not yet known whether the apparent suspensions impact on councillors’ roles as chairs of panels at Tameside Council.
Cllr Ward heads Speaker’s Panel (Liquor Licensing), Cllr Ricci Speaker’s Panel (Planning), Cllr Gwynne Overview Panel and Cllr Warrington Children’s Services Scrutiny Panel.
But despite their suspected suspensions, all nine can sit as Independents – at least until the investigation is over.