MPs in controversial Labour WhatsApp group should never have been in parliament, says Harman
People who believe the things posted in a controversial Labour WhatsApp group shouldn’t have been MPs in the first place, according to Harriet Harman.
Speaking on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the veteran Labour parliamentarian said the scandal was “very serious” as the public already thinks MPs are “contemptuous of their voters”.
Politics live: Follow the latest updates
Electoral Dysfunction: Listen where you get your podcasts
Ms Harman was a Labour MP for 42 years and now sits in the House of Lords.
The scandal over the “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp group has seen former health minister Andrew Gwynne sacked from the government and suspended from the Labour Party.
Fellow MP Oliver Ryan has also been suspended from the party.
Both men are still MPs.
And 11 councillors in Manchester have also been suspended, including Mr Gwynne’s wife.
Andrew Gwynne, pictured in 2022. Pic: PA
Oliver Ryan MP. Pic: House of Commons
Speaking on the podcast, Ms Harman said: “I think it’s very serious. One of the things that people think about MPs is that they talk nicely in public, but actually they’re contemptuous of their voters in private.
“And they say one thing publicly, but they believe something completely different.
“And what this WhatsApp group has shown is exactly that.
“A lot of people have said, ‘oh, how stupid they were to write this down’, but I think it’s much more profound than that.
“I think if you have got racist thoughts, and you have got antisemitic beliefs, and if you’ve got contempt for the people you’re supposed to be representing, you shouldn’t be an MP.
“It’s not that you shouldn’t write it down in a WhatsApp group.
“You shouldn’t be an MP in the first place.”
Read more:
The alleged messages and who sent them
11 councillors suspended over scandal
MP ‘deeply regrets’ comments he made
Health minister Andrew Gwynne was sacked over the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp group scandal
Ms Harman said that Mr Ryan and Mr Gwynne would not have been selected by their local Labour branch to run as MPs if the contents of the WhatsApp group were known.
She added: “Keir Starmer was absolutely right to not miss a beat, but to say all of these people – they shouldn’t be in the Labour Party.
“And that comes with political risks, because if there are by-elections, those will be very difficult by-elections.”
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson reckons that the likelihood of voluntary by-elections was unlikely.
She told the podcast: “We’re about six months into a parliament.
“There’s four and a half years of collecting a £90,000 plus salary that they can both have, whether they’ve got the Labour whip or not.
“I don’t think they’re going to voluntarily resign and refight their seat.”
She also pointed out that, as both men represent seats in and around Greater Manchester, Sir Keir Starmer and Labour would be competing against Reform more than the Conservative Party, which he will want to avoid as it could give Nigel Farage’s party momentum.
Crystal Palace are celebrating a historic win in the FA Cup after a 1-0 victory against Manchester City at Wembley.
It’s the south London club’s first major trophy – and third time lucky after losing two previous finals they have played in. The win also means Palace have qualified for next season’s Europa League.
Eberechi Eze put his side 1-0 up with the game’s only goal in the 16th minute.
Man City were given a chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty in the 33rd minute, but Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson – who had earlier escaped a red card for a handball outside the box – saved Omar Marmoush’s spot kick.
Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze scores. Pic: PA
Man City’s Omar Marmoush after his penalty was saved. Pic: PA
It briefly seemed the south London team had gone 2-0 up after a 58th-minute strike from Daniel Munoz but the goal was quickly ruled offside.
They then held onto their 1-0 lead until the final whistle, which came after an agonising 10 minutes of injury time.
Dean Henderson dodged a red card and saved a penalty. Pic: PA
Oliver Glasner’s team were the underdogs despite Manchester City having had a difficult season in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s side also lost to their neighbours and rivals Manchester United in last year’s cup final.
‘It’s all about spirit’
Palace goalscorer Eze said he had “no words” as he celebrated with his team mates.
Eze celebrates after the final whistle. Pic: PA
“I can only thank God,” he told ITV. “This is special, this is what dreams are made of, for this club as well. Who would have thought we could do it?
“We’ve made history today. The tactics were good but it’s all about spirit. That’s energy, that’s everyone fighting together and doing what we had to do today.”
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway