Sacked WhatsApp minister faces standards probe

Parliament's standards watchdog has launched an investigation into MP Andrew Gwynne.

Gwynne was sacked as a minister and suspended from the Labour Party earlier this month after a newspaper reported offensive messages in a WhatsApp group.

Gwynne, who is now sitting as the independent MP for Gorton and Denton, apologised for any offence caused by the comments.

Parliament's website says the investigation relates to "actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its Members generally".

The commissioner for standards, who looks into potential breaches of parliamentary rules, opened the investigation on Tuesday.

The commissioner said the investigation is relevant to a section of code of conduct that says MPs "shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its members generally".

Earlier this month, Gwynne said he regretted "badly misjudged" comments in the WhatsApp group named Trigger Me Timbers, after he was sacked by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

In messages first reported by the Mail on Sunday, Gwynne had said he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon be dead after she wrote to her local councillor about bin collections.

Gwynne also joked about a constituent being "mown down" by a truck in the messages, which have been seen by the BBC.

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan and 11 councillors in Greater Manchester, who were members of the WhatsApp group, were also suspended by the Labour Party.

At the time, Downing Street said the prime minister would "not hesitate to take action" when ministers and MPs do not uphold high standards.

The commissioner for standards decides whether an MP has broken rules after an investigation.

If they decide any rules have been broken, they can refer cases to MPs sitting on the Committee on Standards, who can impose sanctions.

Breaching the rules on standards can lead to serious consequences for some MPs, including suspension from the House of Commons.

There are many of these investigations every year but most end with a minor telling-off from the commissioner.