British minister sacked and suspended over offensive WhatsApp messages

(Reuters): A British junior minister was sacked by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Saturday and suspended from the governing Labour Party over WhatsApp messages which the minister said were "badly misjudged".

Andrew Gwynne, who was a health minister, apologised on social media platform X following a report by the Mail on Sunday that he had sent WhatsApp messages insulting constituents and other members of parliament.

"I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologise for any offense I’ve caused," he said. "I entirely understand the decisions the PM (prime minister) and the party have taken and, while very sad to have been suspended, will support them in any way I can."

A government spokesperson said Starmer was determined to uphold high standards of conduct in public office.

"He will not hesitate to take action against any minister who fails to meet these standards, as he has in this case," the spokesperson said.