The Labour MP for Gorton & Denton was tonight sacked as a health minister after the Mail on Sunday revealed his vile WhatsApps. After a 72-year-old local resident got in touch with Gwynne’s constituency party to complain about her bin collection, the MP wrote a suggested response: ‘Dear resident, Fuck your bins. I’m re-elected and without your vote. Screw you. PS: Hopefully you’ll have croaked it by the all-outs.’
Charming.
All the above is a quote from this week's Spectator. What a lovely man, I am so glad he is not my MP
The messages were exchanged in a group called ‘Trigger Me Timbers’, which Gwynne shares with more than a dozen Labour councillors, party officials and at least one other MP, all based on the outskirts of Manchester. The MoS gained access to thousands of messages from the closed group, which was set up in 2019, and discovered a barrage of abusive texts. Among them are Gwynne saying someone ‘sounds too Jewish’ and ‘too militaristic’ apparently from their name alone, and sexist comments about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner performing a sex act.
For some time I have felt really concerned that we have people in ‘ high places ‘, in very important roles, who are not intelligent enough to realise that they’ll be found out. They obviously have little respect for the jobs that they are supposed to be doing, and in this case, the people they are serving. Totally dishonourable.
Yes, I'd say the same and think people from all parties would say so. I'd also differentiate between sheer nasty remarks on constituents and "digs" at each other on "insider" political conflicts.
What an interesting diverse set of comments from people - but I find myself agreeing with bits of all of them. As a lifelong Liberal/Libdem I have had my share of terrible MPs who I though were magnificent at some point and was proved wrong. Think Cyril Smith, who I met more than once and found him hard-working and charming! Jeremy Thorpe was even more charming (and his "crime" was never proven) and there have been others. Some were excellent constituency MPs but even so their personal lives shocked me to the core. And the Libdems didn't have that many MPs!
However, I've probably met/worked for over a hundred Libdem candidates and the vast majority have been good people - and I dare say supporters of the other two main parties would say the same.
There are bad eggs in all walks of life and it makes headlines if they are "public servants" but we don't all get to know about the others. Or even to the truth about those who make headlines.
However, I do think that MPs should be a cut above the majority (rather like church men/women) and like most of you I feel they should at least have the brains to not indulge in "jokes" (giving them the benefit of the doubt) about constituents that might come to light.
Whatever quality of MP he is, he has to go.
Sarnia
Oliver Ryan, another member of the What's App group, is being investigated over comments made. If Andrew Gwynne has been sacked then surely Ryan should go the same way. Being a member of this App shows an affinity towards the unacceptable comments made. They should all have to go.
No, it should be a case by case in terms of what was said. Gwynne - no doubt at all an shouldn't be an MP.
What did Ryan say in your opinion that he should also be suspended?
Unfortunately - because of a boundary change I “lost” my last MP - and now this weasel is my MP ! I’m ashamed to say I actually voted for him - but buyers remorse set in very quickly - I emailed him early in September - when the announcement was made about the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance he couldn’t even get my name right when he replied! When I told him I wasn’t satisfied with his response he said he’d refer it to “ the appropriate minister” - I’m still waiting! I believe he - along with his party leadership promised to back the WASPI women - my reply on that subject was a 1 paragraph response toeing the new party line. The man seems to have no conscience, and if he had a shred of decency he would have already tendered his resignation - but I won’t be holding my breath. The only person Andrew Gwynne cares about seems to be himself. I know it’s quite a while until the next election but if he hasn’t jumped I believe he will be pushed - many of his constituents have lost confidence - and I definitely won’t be stupid enough to vote for him again. Time for a by election in my opinion!
Sorry that remark was a reply to Lovesbach
".Or do you think we have all been blinkered about our 'leaders' over the years, and could have been just as easily disillusioned/shocked/ disappointed in the fifties and sixties, had we known the whole truth?"
My anwser,
Yes, basically.
Yes, basically.
LizzieDrip
What an idiot!
Absolutely should not be a Labour MP!
He shouldn't be an MP of any party, full stop. What disgusting, disgraceful behaviour. I'm glad he has had a swift comeuppance.
Sorry that didn’t make sense, I meant to say I think, not I don’t think I’d think!
I think that we would have been just as disillusioned if we had known what really went on behind the scenes in the past. I’m a fam of political biographies, and thee have been some pretty damning stories in them over the years. Politicians are just ordinary people, with the same weaknesses as the rest of us. Having said that, I don’t think I’d think there are some thoroughly decent people in politics too, and there always have been.
Pressed 'post' in error; ....Or do you think we have all been blinkered about our 'leaders' over the years, and could have been just as easily disillusioned/shocked/ disappointed in the fifties and sixties, had we known the whole truth?
Do you think the general standard of people in public life has deteriorated, or are we able, through the endless networks of social interaction, to pick up on sordid attitudes that were always held and expressed? I feel sad that there are no people of stature in public life now; no 'statesmen' or women who can represent this country with some dignity on the world stage.
Looks like Ryan came second in the sack race!
mabon1
That man should be sacked properly not just allowed to cross the floor to be an independent. He will have a full salary and princely expenses plus pension, laughing all the way to the bank - disgraceful
It is not in the power of government to do that though mabon1. Only if an MP is jailed does he forfeit his right to sit as an MP until the end of the parliamentary term.
Of course these sorts of comments are disgusting and show the contempt some of these people have for the constituents they are supposed to represent.
Why is it so many men feel they are somehow exempt from behaving in a respectful and civilised way? It's not just in politics, it seems to be everywhere. We don't often hear of women behaving so disgustingly (excluding, of course, people like Katie Hopkins - but then she isn't an MP representing a constituency, and she actually courts people who are racist and sexist.)
Generally speaking, I imagine like most people, I think people have a right to privacy. In this case, however, I think it is rather fortunate that people have been made aware of this man's true feelings, which, in my opinion, make him unfit for office.
That man should be sacked properly not just allowed to cross the floor to be an independent. He will have a full salary and princely expenses plus pension, laughing all the way to the bank - disgraceful
Oliver Ryan, another member of the What's App group, is being investigated over comments made. If Andrew Gwynne has been sacked then surely Ryan should go the same way. Being a member of this App shows an affinity towards the unacceptable comments made. They should all have to go.
No, it doesn't mean one condones it, it's a recognition of the locker room mentality that still exists.
Then why not condemn it instead of attempting to excuse it?
Oh that’s personal…..
Lathyrus3
No need to get so het up and personal.
And those f the Labour Party? Are you the Opposition.
You’re not doing the Labour Party or the Government any favours here.
Sigh?
It’s ok. I think it’s pretty plain what your opinions are.
eazybee
^Almost any business or group does it to varying extremes I should think.^
Really?? And that enables you to condone it?
No, it doesn't mean one condones it, it's a recognition of the locker room mentality that still exists.
Sigh
Oreo
Lathyrus3
Ok. That’s one little phrase.
How about commenting on a group of people with power over the lives of other who set up a group where they can express their contempt for the people over whom they have power.
And their right to keep that private so that nobody will know the beliefs their actions are based on.
Any thoughts about that?Almost any business or group does it to varying extremes I should think.
So having people with these views in Government is fine by you? Just as lng as it’s kept secret.
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