The fallout from the Andrew Gwynne WhatsApp scandal has deepened as Labour MP Oliver Ryan has admitted to being part of the controversial group chat that led to Gwynne’s sacking. Ryan, who only joined Parliament last July, is now facing an investigation after offensive messages surfaced involving insults and mocking comments about a fellow Labour MP’s sexuality.
Ryan issued a public apology on Sunday night, admitting to his involvement and pledging to cooperate fully with the Labour Party’s investigation.
Ryan’s apology: “I regret not speaking out”
Ryan’s statement was as much an apology as it was a confession. The Burnley MP, who admitted to making regrettable comments himself, acknowledged that his silence was a mistake.
“Some of the comments made in that group were completely unacceptable, and I fully condemn them,” he said. “I regret not speaking out at the time, and I recognise that failing to do so was wrong. I also made some comments myself which I deeply regret and would not make today, and for that, I wholeheartedly apologise.”
Ryan stressed that he did not see every message shared in the chat—called Trigger Me Timbers—but accepted responsibility for not doing more to challenge offensive remarks.
Andrew Gwynne’s offensive messages exposed
The scandal erupted after Andrew Gwynne, a former health minister, was sacked and suspended from the party over a series of offensive messages revealed by the Mail on Sunday.
Among the messages:
- Gwynne joked about a local elderly voter dying, saying, “Hopefully you’ll have croaked it by the all-outs.”
- He made an anti-Semitic comment about Marshall Rosenberg, suggesting the American psychologist sounded “too militaristic and too Jewish” and jokingly asking if he was “in Mossad.”
- Gwynne fantasised about a cyclist being hit by a lorry, saying, “We couldn’t be that lucky!”
What’s next for Ryan and Labour?
A government source described Ryan’s remarks as “unacceptable and deeply disappointing”, while confirming that the Labour chief whip would be speaking to him. The message was clear: “No action is off the table.”
It’s understood that Labour councillors and officials were also members of the group, which shared offensive remarks and personal attacks dating back to 2019. As Labour digs deeper, the party risks being further embarrassed by the potential involvement of additional members.
For now, Oliver Ryan will be hoping his apology is enough to avoid the same fate as Gwynne, but with Labour under pressure to clean house, nothing is guaranteed.
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