The Labour Party has suspended 11 councillors who had joined a WhatsApp chat at the centre of a scandal over offensive messages.
It comes after the Mail on Sunday reported that former health minister Andrew Gwynne had sent offensive messages on the group chat, which insulted constituents, fellow MPs and councillors, and included allegedly racist and sexist comments.
Labour is investigating the group chat and has ‘administratively suspended’ nine Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council members and two members of Stockport Council.
It is understood that this includes Tameside councillors Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton, who had already decided to ‘step away’ from their duties at the local authority.
A Labour spokesperson said: ‘As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was launched in line with the Labour Party's rules and procedures and this process is ongoing.
‘Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.’
Mr Gwynne, who is MP for Greater Manchester constituency Gorton and Denton, has been sacked as health minister and suspended from the Labour Party.
Labour has also suspended Burnley MP Oliver Ryan over his membership of and comments in the group.
