A WHATSAPP group in which MP Andrew Gwynne posted “completely unacceptable” messages is being investigated, a minister said today.

But Labour MP Diane Abbott told the Star: “Gwynne’s racist and sexist WhatsApp messages reflects the general thinking of too many of the people around Starmer.

“They think that echoing the Reform narrative will attract voters to Labour. But in fact all it does is give Reform increased legitimacy.

“The more we echo Reform, the more people will vote for them.”

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook, announcing the investigation, could not say if others in the chat, reportedly including another Labour MP, will be suspended.

But he suggested that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could take action based on investigation findings.

Mr Gwynne said the messages were “badly misjudged” after Sir Keir sacked him as health minister and suspended him from the Labour Party.

He reportedly posted sexist comments about deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and racist remarks about Labour MP Diane Abbott on the WhatsApp group called Trigger Me Timbers.

Mr Gwynne also reportedly wrote in one message that he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon have “croaked it” after she asked a councillor, who shared the message in the group, about her bins.

Further comments included anti-semitic slights and a joke about a constituent being “mown down” by a truck.

A Momentum spokesperson told the Star: “While the Labour leadership has systematically blocked leftwingers on the pretext of ensuring ‘high quality candidates,’ these revelations prove once again that it is usually the favoured sons and daughters of the Labour right who consistently bring the party into disrepute with appalling attitudes and behaviour.”

Mr Gwynne posted on X to apologise for any offence caused, but did not suggest he would stand down as an MP.

He said: “I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offence 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 Labour spokesperson said: “Andrew Gwynne has been administratively suspended as a member of the Labour Party.

“We are investigating comments made in this WhatsApp group in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures.

“Swift action will be taken if individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.”