Health Minister sacked for insulting and ‘antisemitic’ Whatsapp comments

Health Minister Andrew Gwynne has been sacked and suspended from the Labour Party following comments he made in a WhatsApp group, including calling a surname “too Jewish” and “too militaristic”.

The Mail on Sunday reported that in a WhatsApp discussion about an upcoming Labour meeting, a member of the group asked whether the late American psychologist, Marshall Rosenberg, an expert in conflict management, would be attending.  Gwynne said: “No. He sounds too militaristic and too Jewish. Is he in Mossad?”

After the story appeared Gwynne, 50, wrote: “I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologised for any offence I’ve caused”, adding “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.”

The MP for Gorton and Denton previously served in the shadow cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn as Shadow Minister without Portfolio. When Corbyn was criticised for antisemitism, Gwynne said he must work to “rebuild trust” with the Jewish community.

In April 2018, Gwynne came under fire under similar circumstances when a Labour supporters’ Facebook group of which he was a member shared antisemitic material. When confronted by a reporter, he claimed he had been added to the group without his permission.

He also drew strong criticism from Jewish groups when in the same year, as Labour’s shadow communities secretary, he suggested the party was working on a “broader” definition of what constituted antisemitism.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walks with members of his shadow cabinet (from left) Shadow Business Secretary Rebecca Long Bailey and Shadow Communities Secretary, Andrew Gwynne (Credit: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)Getty Images

The Mail on Sunday also said that  Gwynne’s messages mocked  a 72-year-old pensioner and constituent over a bin collection issue. Gwynne wrote: “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.”

It also accused him of posting racist comments about Labour MPs Diane Abbott and sexist comments about Angela Rayner.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer suspended him from the Labour Party when he was told about the content of the WhatsApp messages on Saturday.

A government spokesperson said Starmer was “determined to uphold high standards of those in public office” and “will not hesitate” to take action against ministers who fall short of these standards.