More Labour figures may be suspended as party investigates WhatsApp group | Labour

Labour has launched an urgent investigation into a WhatsApp group in which the Labour MP Andrew Gwynne posted “completely unacceptable” messages, a minister has said.

Gwynne, 50, was sacked as a health minister after reports he shared racist remarks about Diane Abbott and sexist comments about Angela Rayner, and joked about an elderly woman dying before the next election.

The MP for Gorton and Denton, in Greater Manchester, apologised and said he regretted his “badly misjudged comments”.

The remarks were posted in a WhatsApp group called Trigger Me Timbers, which reportedly included more than a dozen Labour councillors, party officials and at least one other MP.

The housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, said on Sunday there would be an investigation into the matter – which could result in the suspension of other Labour figures.

Appearing on Sky News, Pennycook said he could not say if other Labour members would be suspended but suggested Keir Starmer could take action based on what the investigation found.

He said: “I don’t know, personally, what other people on that WhatsApp conversation have said … I’ve been very clear, there’s an investigation taking place into the whole incident.”

“What the public can take from the way the prime minister has acted decisively in this case to dismiss Andrew Gwynne, is that if any other Labour MP or minister falls short he will act to uphold the highest standards in public office,” Pennycook said.

The prime minister dismissed Gwynne as a minister as soon as he became aware of the comments, it is understood.

The language the MP reportedly used in his messages was “completely unacceptable” and “in some instances, it’s deeply concerning”, Pennycook said.

Gwynne posted on X on Saturday apologising for any offence caused but did not suggest he would stand down as an MP.

“I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offence I’ve caused. I’ve served the Labour party all my life and it was a huge honour to be appointed a minister by Keir Starmer.

“I entirely understand the decisions the PM and the party have taken and, while very sad to have been suspended, will support them in any way I can,” he wrote.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Gwynne’s comments included antisemitic slights and a joke about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck.

He also reportedly wrote in one message that he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon have “croaked it” after she asked a councillor, who shared the message in the group, about her rubbish bins.

A senior Conservative said the mention of the elderly woman was “nasty”, and described as “sinister” a message in which Gwynne is said to have written that someone’s name sounded “too Jewish”.

The shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart questioned whether any other members of the chat group had called out the alleged antisemitic comment.

“That is a very serious remark, and if the prime minister doesn’t take action against everyone in that group very quickly, we know that there is still a problem in the Labour party,” he told Sky News.