'Labour threw me under bus over WhatsApp scandal'

A Labour councillor has claimed he was "thrown under the bus" by party chiefs after he raised concerns about a controversial WhatsApp group alleged to have contained racist and sexist material.

Vincent Ricci, from Tameside Council, told BBC North West Tonight that he had complained about the content of messages in the group two years ago, but no action had been taken.

Health minister Andrew Gwynne was sacked when messages he had posted in the group came to light earlier this month, while Burnley MP and former Tameside councillor Oliver Ryan was suspended from the party along with 11 current Tameside and Stockport members.

The Labour Party said "swift action" was taken where people were found to have breached party standards.

Ricci said he had raised concerns about the group, contacting Gorton and Denton MP Gwynne about the messages in 2022, but not getting any response.

"The group was going down a path that it wasn't there for," he said.

He said that on 7 April 2022 he was removed from the group and he believed this was because he had spoken about it.

He also claimed his colleague, former Tameside council leader Ged Cooney had told the Labour Party about the group but nothing was done. Cooney was suspended on Thursday.

Ricci showed the BBC abusive messages he had received since his suspension and said he felt the treatment he had received was "absolutely disgraceful".

He said he was "so annoyed and frustrated at the Labour Party because they won't listen to me".

Ricci said he felt he "will 100% be completely exonerated" but was concerned about the time it would take and the damage that would be done in the meantime.

Gwynne admitted having made "badly misjudged" comments, while Ryan, who is now sitting as an independent MP for Burnley, said he had made comments which he "deeply regretted".

Tameside councillors Claire Reid, Jack Naylor and George Newton have stepped down from their cabinet positions in the wake of the headlines about the group.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported the Labour Party suspended former Tameside council leader Ged Cooney for providing information to the media about party disciplinary matters and staff.

Cooney said he had been suspended "because I reported the WhatsApp group and I identified in that report officers of the Labour Party who failed to act on that report".

He added that he had never been a member of the WhatsApp group in question and did not wish to be associated with it."

In statement issued on Monday, a Labour Party spokesperson said: "As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was immediately launched and this process is ongoing in line with the Labour Party's rules and procedures.

"Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members."

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