Starmer sacks British junior minister over insulting and antisemitic WhatsApp messages

LONDON – A British junior minister has been sacked by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and suspended from the governing Labour Party over WhatsApp messages that the minister said were “badly misjudged.”

Andrew Gwynne, who was a health minister, apologizes on X following a report by the Mail on Sunday that he had sent WhatsApp messages insulting constituents and other members of parliament. There were antisemitic posts among the messages.

“I deeply regret my badly misjudged comments and apologize for any offense I’ve caused,” he says. “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 says Starmer is determined to uphold high standards of conduct in public office.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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