Another Labour MP is facing backlash after reportedly managing a WhatsApp group where veterans, pensioners, and disabled protesters were labeled as “Nazis” and “terrorists.”
Education Minister Stephen Morgan is said to have been an administrator of the “Portsmouth Labour” chat, which included 143 members, among them Labour councillors and activists.
The controversy stems from discussions about a protest held at Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square last year.
A group of pensioners, veterans, and disabled individuals had gathered carrying banners reading “Veterans before asylum seekers.”
However, they were met by counter-protesters shouting, “Nazi scum off our streets.”
Leaked messages from the WhatsApp group suggest that some members supported the counter-protesters, with Labour councillor Asghar Shah reportedly expressing her appreciation for their actions and comparing the original protesters to criminals.
AI Images and Offensive Remarks Spark Outrage
Leaked screenshots also reveal that the group shared an AI-generated image of Rishi Sunak being escorted onto a Rwanda deportation flight by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Another altered image depicted Sunak holding Starmer’s hand, captioned: “C’mon, you don’t want to miss the Rwanda flight.”
Adding to the controversy, group members allegedly mocked Liberal Democrat councillor Lee Hunt’s surname in an offensive manner.
Further messages criticized Israel, with some members accusing the country of committing “genocide” and calling it a “failed project.”
Neither Stephen Morgan nor fellow administrator, Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin, reportedly intervened to moderate the language used in the chat.
Both stepped down from their roles in the group after a Portsmouth Independent Party councillor leaked some of its content in November.
A spokesperson for Portsmouth Labour acknowledged that some of the language used in the chat was inappropriate, stating, “Portsmouth Labour will continue to campaign relentlessly for the change that residents want, and for the services Portsmouth council taxpayers deserve.”
Labour Faces Additional WhatsApp Scandal
This revelation comes amid another Labour-related WhatsApp controversy.
Just days prior, 11 Labour councillors were suspended over their participation in the “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp group, where members reportedly mocked pensioners and made misogynistic and homophobic remarks.
Among the suspended councillors is Allison Gwynne, the wife of sacked MP Andrew Gwynne.
The group, which reportedly had around 44 members, led to Gwynne’s removal from his ministerial role after The Mail on Sunday exposed its offensive messages.
Another MP, Oliver Ryan of Burnley, was also suspended after posting over 2,000 messages in the group.
The full list of suspended councillors includes:
- Claire Reid
- Jack Naylor
- George Newton
- Vincent Ricci
- Charlotte Martin
- Allison Gwynne
- George Jones
- Brenda Warrington
- Denise Ward
- David Sedgwick (Stockport Council)
- Holly McCormack (Stockport Council)
Many of the offensive comments in this chat date back to as early as 2019.
A Labour Party spokesperson stated, “As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was launched in line with Labour Party rules and procedures.
Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them.”
Labour’s Response to Mounting Controversies
The scandal has raised fresh questions about Labour’s internal culture.
In response to the WhatsApp leaks, Labour skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith emphasized that such messages are “completely unacceptable.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, she defended the party’s swift response, stating, “What we are is the decisive party.”
Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police are now assessing multiple complaints related to the “Trigger Me Timbers” group’s offensive content.
What’s Next for Labour?
With multiple MPs and councillors now under scrutiny, Labour faces increasing pressure to demonstrate accountability.
The party’s ability to handle these controversies could shape public perception ahead of upcoming elections.
As investigations continue, all eyes are on Labour’s next moves in addressing the growing discontent within its ranks.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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