Labour MP Scandal: Ashley Dalton Replaces Andrew Gwyn as Health Minister 2025

Ashley Dalton Replaces Andrew Gwyn as Health Minister

Now Ashley Dalton has been named as the replacement for Andrew Gwyn as Health Minister after he was sacked over the weekend for making alleged racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic remarks in a WhatsApp group chat. A second Labour MP, Oliver Ryan, has apologized for comments he made in the same group. His comments are now being investigated by the Labour Party. Earlier, when asked about Oliver Ryan, the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson insisted Labour expects very high standards from its MPs. She stated, “It is disappointing and unacceptable. My understanding is that Oliver Ryan will meet with the chief whip to discuss what’s taken place, that the Labour Party will investigate what has gone on, and whilst that investigation is underway, I won’t be offering any more comment on that. But people can be assured that the Labour Party maintains very high standards when it comes to what we expect of our candidates and our members of parliament. You will have seen over the weekend the Prime Minister taking swift action against Andrew Gwyn in that regard.”

Meanwhile, Greater Manchester Police have said they’ve received a small number of complaints relating to publicized WhatsApp messages. Our chief political correspondent, John Craig, joins me now from inside the Palace of Westminster. Afternoon to you, John. Andrew Gwyn has been an MP for 20 years, while Oliver Ryan has been there for about six months. Do you think that will help him if he intends to learn from his mistakes?

Well, let’s talk about Oliver Ryan first. He’s the Labour MP for Burnley. He won that seat from the Conservatives last July, and he used to work for Andrew Gwyn, whom he describes as a friend. Last night, he owned up to being the second MP involved in this WhatsApp controversy. He said that between 2019 and early 2022, he was a member of a WhatsApp group created by Andrew Gwyn, and he admitted that some of the comments made in that group were completely unacceptable. He said he fully condemns them and regrets not speaking out at the time, recognizing that failing to do so was wrong. He also mentioned that he didn’t see every message but accepts responsibility for not being more proactive in challenging what was said.

Shortly after that, overnight, we learned that he has been summoned to a meeting with the chief whip, Sir Alan Campbell, a tough disciplinarian. Since the election, he has suspended quite a few MPs for rebelling in votes in the House of Commons. He’s a former school teacher and a tough man. That meeting, I am told on the very highest authority, is going to take place later today. It hasn’t happened yet, but clearly, he’s got to explain himself. He’s being given the chance to explain himself.

Speaking earlier on Sky News, Angela Eagle, the Home Office Minister, talked about the key issue being the content of what Mr. Ryan had said in some of those posts. Now, I must admit, looking at day two of the story, they don’t look quite as offensive as day one when Mr. Gwyn’s comments were claimed to be anti-Semitic, misogynistic, sexist, and generally pretty offensive. As a result, he lost his job as a government minister—he was a junior minister at the Health Department—and he also lost the Labour whip. That has not yet happened to Mr. Ryan. It may be the result of his meeting with the chief whip, or he may just be given a severe ticking off. I suspect the chief whip may be more understanding towards a new MP rather than an old hand like Andrew Gwyn.

Let me just tell you briefly about Mr. Gwyn. Greater Manchester Police have said they’ve received a small number of complaints relating to publicized messages allegedly from a WhatsApp group. A non-crime hate incident has been recorded, and they are in contact with their parliamentary liaison as part of their initial inquiries. The government has moved swiftly to appoint Mr. Gwyn’s replacement. Ashley Dalton came into parliament in a by-election in West Lancashire in 2013, and crucially, she was Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary’s parliamentary private secretary, so she knows a bit about the Health Department. No great surprise to see her move up.

John, thanks very much.