UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed Health Minister Andrew Gwynne following the emergence of an offensive WhatsApp message in which he allegedly wished death upon pensioners who did not vote for the Labour Party.
The controversy arose after The Mail reported that Mr. Gwynne, who represented Gorton and Denton in Parliament, made the inappropriate remarks in a WhatsApp group chat.
Following the revelation, he was not only removed from his ministerial position but also suspended from the Labour Party.
A government spokesperson confirmed the dismissal, stating that Prime Minister Starmer was deeply disappointed by Mr. Gwynne’s comments and remains committed to maintaining high ethical standards among public officials.
“The Prime Minister is determined to uphold integrity in government and will not hesitate to take action against any minister who falls short of these expectations,” the spokesperson added.
In response to his removal, Mr. Gwynne issued a public apology on X (formerly Twitter), acknowledging the inappropriateness of his remarks.
“I deeply regret my poorly judged comments and apologize for any offense they have caused. Serving in Keir Starmer’s government was a great honor, and I fully understand the decision taken against me,” he wrote, expressing his continued support for the Labour Party despite his suspension.