Three councillors will ‘step away’ from their roles at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council after they were caught up in a scandal over a leaked WhatsApp chat.
It comes after the Mail on Sunday reported that 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.
He has been sacked from his role and suspended from the Labour Party. Labour has also suspended Burnley MP Oliver Ryan, who was a member of the same WhatsApp group.
Councillors Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton have decided to ‘step away from their executive duties at Tameside Council whilst an investigation by the Labour Party is underway’, a spokesperson for Tameside Labour said.
Independent councillor Kaleel Khan said he had made a ‘hate crime report’ to the police after constituents contacted him with concerns about the messages.
Cllr Khan has also asked the council to investigate the actions of councillors in the WhatsApp group.
