GWYNNE: 'I'm sorry for making offensive comments'

Tameside MP Andrew Gwynne has apologised for the offensive and anti-semitic comments which led to his suspension by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer tonight.

The Gorton and Denton MP shared comments on WhatsApp wishing a constituent who didn't vote for him 'died before the next general election'.

Andrew Gwynne also made anti-Semitic slights and 'jokes' about a constituent being 'mown down' by a truck on a WhatsApp group.

Those comments and others, including a sexual slur at Deputy PM and Ashton MP Angela Rayner led to The Prime Minister stripping of his job as Health Minister and suspended his membership of the Labour Party.

Mr Gwynne responded to his sacking and suspension with a message on social media. He said: "I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offense 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."

A Government spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister is determined to uphold high standards of conduct in public office and lead a government in the service of working people. He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case."

In one particular comment, the MP says he hopes a 72-year-old woman will soon be dead after she dared to ask about her bins.

Mr Gwynne wrote a suggested response: 'Dear resident, F*** your bins. I'm re-elected and without your vote. Screw you. PS: Hopefully you'll have croaked it by the all-outs.'

The messages were exchanged in a group called Trigger Me Timbers, which Mr Gwynne shares with more than a dozen Labour councillors, party officials and at least one other MP.

The messages, uncovered by the Mail on Sunday also allege Mr Gwynne described someone 'sounds too Jewish' and 'too militaristic', apparently from their name alone; made racist comments about veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott, mocking her historic achievement in becoming the first black MP at either Despatch Box for Prime Minister's Questions and made sexist comments about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner performing a sex act.

Gwynne also referred to a fellow Labour leader as 'Colin C*mface'.