Labour suspends 11 councillors over WhatsApp scandal

The Labour Party has suspended 11 of its councillors implicit their rank of a WhatsApp radical that led to a curate being sacked from the frontbench.

It is understood that astir of the councillors are portion of Tameside Council portion 2 are members of Stockport Council.

The determination comes aft the enactment sacked wellness curate Andrew Gwynne implicit messages helium reportedly posted successful the group.

The Mail connected Sunday reported that Mr Gwynne made antisemitic comments and "joked" astir a pensioner constituent, saying helium hoped she died earlier the adjacent election.

His sacking was followed by the enactment suspending Burnley MP Oliver Ryan for comments made successful the WhatsApp group.

The Labour Party confirmed Oliver Ryan has had the whip removed, meaning helium volition present beryllium arsenic an autarkic MP successful the Commons.

On the suspension of the 11 councillors, a enactment spokesperson said: "As portion of our WhatsApp radical investigation, a radical of councillors person been administratively suspended from the Labour Party.

"As soon arsenic this radical was brought to our attention, a thorough probe was launched successful enactment with the Labour Party's rules and procedures and this process is ongoing.

"Swift enactment volition ever beryllium taken wherever individuals are recovered to person breached the precocious standards expected of them arsenic Labour Party members."

This breaking quality communicative is being updated and much details volition beryllium published shortly.

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