A Labour MP has said he “deeply regrets” comments made on a WhatsApp group – a day after health minister Andrew Gwynne was sacked for leaked racist and sexist remarks posted on the same chat.

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan is being investigated by the Labour Party over comments which a government source said were “unacceptable and deeply disappointing”.

The source told the Press Association: “While a Labour Party investigation is already under way, the chief whip will also be speaking to him and no action is off the table.”

Politics latest: Minister says Andrew Gwynne’s comments ‘unacceptable’

In a statement on X, Mr Ryan apologised for remarks he made which he “would not make today”, and said he would “cooperate fully” with the investigation.

He said that between 2019 and early 2022, he was a member of a WhatsApp group “created by my MP and former employer, Andrew Gwynne”.

Mr Ryan said: “Some of the comments made in that group were completely unacceptable, and I fully condemn them.”

He also said he regretted “not speaking out at the time”, and he recognised that “failing to do so was wrong”.

“I did not see every message, but I accept responsibility for not being more proactive in challenging what was said,” he added.

Mr Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton, was sacked as health minister by Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday over remarks he posted on the chat.

He reportedly made antisemitic comments and “joked” about a pensioner constituent, saying he hoped she died before the next election, according to the Mail on Sunday.

Meanwhile, a senior official said Labour will punish any other MP or minister caught up in the scandal.

Speaking to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, housing minister Matthew Pennycook described Mr Gwynne’s remarks as “unacceptable”.

“I don’t know, personally, what other people on that WhatsApp conversation have said… I’ve being very clear, there’s an investigation taking place into the whole incident.

“What the public can take from the way the prime minister has acted decisively in this case to dismiss Andrew Gwynne is that if any other Labour MP or minister falls short he will act to uphold the highest standards in public office.”

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On Saturday, a Labour spokesperson confirmed Mr Gwynne had been suspended as a member of the Labour Party.

Following the decision by Labour, Mr Gwynne said he deeply regretted his “badly misjudged comments” and apologised for any offence 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.”

Mr Gwynne is the latest minister to go, with ex-treasury minister Tulip Siddiq quitting last month and Louise Haigh stepping aside as transport minister in November.

Donald Trump has repeated calls to make Canada “the 51st state” as he reiterated his support for tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Speaking to Fox News, when asked if he was serious about Canada being a 51st state Mr Trump said: “I think Canada would be much better off.

“We lose $200bn a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen. It’s too much.

“Why are we paying $200bn a year essentially in subsidy to Canada? Now, if they are a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”

He also continued to voice support for Mr Musk. The X owner is spearheading the US president’s efforts to cut costs and bureaucracy in government, which has already seen the US Aid Agency for International Development targeted.

Named the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), its aim is to find ways to sack federal workers, cut programmes and cut federal regulations.

However, there have been suggestions the Tesla chief’s access to government systems could pose a threat to national security.

But Mr Trump has said he trusts Mr Musk and is going to ask him to investigate billions of dollars of “fraud and abuse” within the US military.

“I’ve had great help with Elon Musk. He’s been terrific,” he said.

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When asked if he trusted him, Mr Trump added: “Trust Elon? He’s not gaining anything.

“In fact, I wonder how he can devote the time to it – he’s so into it.

“But I told him do that and then I’m going to tell him very soon – maybe in the next 24 hours – to go check the Department for Education. He’s going to find the same thing.

“Then I’m going to go to the military – let’s check the military. We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse.

“You know, the people elected me on that.”

‘Gulf of America day’

Mr Trump also made a series of statements aboard Air Force One as he flew to the Super Bowl.

He signed a proclamation declaring 9 February 2025 as the first ever “Gulf of America” day. One of the first executive orders the president signed was renaming the Gulf of Mexico.

While signing the latest proclamation, he posed in front of a map with the newly changed name.

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He also said he would announce 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the US, signalling yet another major escalation in his trade policy overhaul. These reciprocal tariffs will take effect almost immediately, he said.

All major pieces have now been recovered of the passenger plane and US army helicopter which collided in mid-air in Washington DC last week, say safety officials.

Sixty-seven people were killed in the 29 January disaster which left both aircraft in the Potomac River after they plunged into the water. The remains of all the victims have been recovered. There were no survivors.

Salvage crews have been working to recover the wreckage of the American Airlines jet and the Black Hawk helicopter.

Their black boxes have been found and crash debris is now in a hangar in Arlington, Virginia, as the probe continues.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said: “Investigators will be looking for witness marks on the aircraft that could provide clues to the angle of collision.”

On Saturday, a plane equipped with lasers flew low over the crash scene as it scanned the bottom of the river. Crews will spend the coming days looking for smaller debris before finishing the work in around a week.

At the time of the disaster, American Airlines Flight 5342, carrying 60 passengers and four crew, was preparing to land at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, while the Sikorsky helicopter, with three pilots on board, was on a training exercise.

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Helicopter was ‘above limit’

The jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325ft (99m), plus or minus 25ft (7.6m).

The helicopter was flying at 300ft (91m), which was 100ft (30.5m) over the maximum allowed for that route, the NTSB has said.

Key safety system turned off

Earlier this week, it emerged that a key safety system was turned off on the helicopter.

Senate commerce committee chairperson Ted Cruz, who has been briefed by investigators, said the Black Hawk had switched off its automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), which is allowed for military aircraft.

ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology to track aircraft location. Mr Cruz said the helicopter had a transponder so it would appear on radar but ADS-B is much more accurate.

“This was a training mission, so there was no compelling national security reason for ADS-B to be turned off,” Mr Cruz said.

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Also, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has started reviewing airports with high numbers of mixed helicopter and plane traffic nearby after Mr Cruz said he had wanted a safety review.

President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed the collision on what he called an “obsolete” computer system used by US air traffic controllers and vowed to replace it.

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He has also linked a diversity drive at the FAA under previous governments to the crash.

It has since been said there is no evidence to support the president’s claim.

Last week’s crash was the deadliest US air disaster since 12 November 2001, when a jet hit a New York City neighbourhood soon after take-off, killing all 260 people on board and five on the ground.