In London on February 8th, a British junior minister was dismissed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and suspended from the Labour Party for inappropriate WhatsApp messages. Andrew Gwynne, who served as a health minister, expressed regret for his remarks which he admitted were "badly misjudged."
Following a report by the Mail on Sunday, revealing derogatory messages towards constituents and fellow members of parliament, Gwynne publicly apologized on the social media platform X: "I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologize for any offense I’ve caused." He also stated, "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."
Stressing the importance of maintaining high ethical standards in public office, a government spokesperson affirmed Starmer's commitment to accountability: "He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case."
Labour, which secured a significant electoral victory last July, has seen a decline in popularity since then, facing challenges from initial missteps and economic growth setbacks.
In a related development, Tulip Siddiq, who was responsible for financial services and anti-corruption efforts, resigned last month amidst inquiries regarding her financial connections to Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's former prime minister. Siddiq has denied any misconduct.
Notably, Louise Haigh resigned in November after admitting to a minor criminal offense prior to her government appointment, concerning a mistakenly reported stolen cell phone.