The political landscape of Tameside was thrown into turmoil yet again this week

The political landscape of Tameside has been rocked by scandal and in-party squabbles this week. But this is nothing new.

With such a strong Labour majority in the borough, the biggest threat to the ruling party often comes from those within its own ranks.

These internal party divisions were exposed for all to see when messages from a WhatsApp group of one local clique were leaked.

The leaked messages from the group titled ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ led to a string of suspensions – now totalling two MPs and 12 local councillors – in what has been an embarrassing episode for Labour nationally. But the party had already seen the writing on the wall.

Last year, the Labour Party sent its officials to Tameside to bring about a ‘culture change’, accusing the local group of ‘unacceptable working practices’. It came amid a week of turmoil at the town hall over its failure to fix long-standing issues with children’s services.

And last week, these party officials reported back with a damning verdict. In an email, a regional party official warned of the danger of a factional fight ‘erupting’ within the local Labour Party.

The latest scandal to come out of Tameside came as no surprise to some Labour sources. But the contents of the conversations in the infamous ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ WhatsApp group – made of Gorton and Denton MP Andrew Gwynne and his allies – still shocked many.

In the group, Mr Gwynne who was sacked as a junior health minister on Saturday, February 8, is alleged to have made anti-Semitic slights. He also appeared to joke about a pensioner dying before an election after she raised concerns about bin collections.

Mr Gwynne apologised for his ‘badly misjudged comments’, as did former Tameside councillor and Burnley MP Oliver Ryan who was also suspended. Mr Gwynne’s sacking was followed by a flurry of resignations from Denton councillors Jack Naylor, Claire Reid and George Newton as cabinet members of Tameside Council – who were all involved and made comments on the WhatsApp group.

They were among 11 councillors from Tameside and Stockport initially suspended by Labour, including former council leader Brenda Warrington. The latest high-profile suspension from Labour was ex-council leader Ged Cooney, who was not on the WhatsApp group.

The Droylsden West councillor had the whip removed for providing information and commentary to the media. He has strongly denied any involvement with the group.

Political infighting is nothing new in Tameside, with Labour having three leaders in as many years. Coun Ged Cooney’s takeover from former leader Coun Brenda Warrington in 2022 was described as ‘hostile’ at the time.

But Coun Cooney only lasted two years in the top job. Wind back the clock four months when Tameside was last thrust into the national limelight for its political turmoil.

The long-standing failures within the authority’s children’s services led to the chief executive Sandra Stewart resigning. After a number of senior councillor resignations, Coun Cooney quit as leader after it became clear he didn’t have support of the party.

Politics locally had been described as ‘toxic’ within a scathing report written by the children’s commissioner. That report into the inadequate rated children’s services ultimately triggered the downfall of Coun Cooney’s tenure.

Following that council crisis in October, a campaign improvement board was put in place by the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to bring about a needed ‘culture change’. They installed the new leader Coun Eleanor Wills and her cabinet, three of whom have resigned amidst the latest scandal.

‘Deep factional divides within Labour’

According to sources within Tameside Labour, there is still a clear divide in the party locally. With certain councillors taking sides, that breeds tension beneath the surface.

This was confirmed in an email from a regional party official who sent an update from Labour’s campaign improvement board (CIB) on February 4. The CIB highlighted a ‘lack of acceptance by elements of the Labour group of the problems facing Tameside Council’; ‘no commitment from a number of Labour members to tackle the issues’; and ‘deep factional divides within the Labour group’.

It also spoke of a ‘poor culture’ of campaigning with an absence of new candidates coming forward to stand for Labour locally. And it criticised Labour’s local candidate selection process, setting out how the CIB will take over the selection of candidates from now on.

It comes after the party’s National Executive Committee approved the new council leader, her deputy and chief whip last year. The email says that, ‘in all probability’, there will be no leadership change for two years’ with the CIB remaining for the forseeable future.

The update went on to warn of the ‘danger of a factional fight erupting’ in the local Labour party. It was an accurate prediction from the CIB because four days later Andrew Gwynne was sacked as health minister and chaos ensued.

A source within the local Labour group admitted to being unsurprised by the latest scandal, describing the current setup as ‘childish’, particularly within the ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ group.

The source went on to compare their internal party election process for candidates to ‘picking a school prefect’. Given the nature of some of the messages leaked from the WhatsApp group currently doing the rounds across social media, the general consensus would tend to agree.

Another Labour source went on to describe the Denton councillors caught up in the latest scandal as having ‘the biggest voice’ in the party locally. The source strongly suggested that a number of the Denton group were leading the charge to get Coun Cooney ousted as leader last October.

The political in-fighting back then led to two government ministers having to deliver scathing statements about the Labour party working in their own backyard – who are ultimately their biggest supporters come election time. Four months on, and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, Ashton MP, and business minister Jonathan Reynolds, Stalybridge and Hyde MP, have both issued similar statements of disappointment.

Mr Reynolds said: “Like all local residents I have been disgusted by the WhatsApp comments revealed to have been made by Denton and Reddish representatives. Some of the messages we’ve seen have been completely unacceptable and I welcome the fact that both the Prime Minister, Labour Party and Tameside Council Leader Eleanor Wills took swift action against the individuals involved.

“To me, serving constituents is a privilege that must be honoured with respect. I know the Labour Government and the Labour Party will not hesitate to act if the highest standards are not upheld.”

Mrs Rayner said: “First of all, I was absolutely disgusted by what is in that WhatsApp group. I’m a Tameside MP, there were things about me – but the way in which they spoke about the people we’re there to represent, I was absolutely disgusted.

“I’m pleased actually that it’s come to light because I don’t want people like that representing our people. It’s an absolute honour to represent the people I represent, the people I grew up with, and I’ve got a lot of time and respect for people.

“To be so disrespectful in that way, we don’t want people like that in our party. But equally, I think people need to be responsible in setting the culture.”

The town hall left to pick up the pieces

Although this scandal started with an MP being sacked from his ministerial role, the shockwaves hit the town hall. Any rebuilding work started by council leader Eleanor Wills four months ago has taken a serious dent.

Her initial statement as the new leader called for stability and a change of culture, but this past week has been anything but. With such a strong Labour majority in the council chamber, the biggest threat to the council’s stability is not from the opposition party, but from those within its own ranks.

In a recent statement, Coun Wills said: “I would like to respond to concerns that have arisen as a result of comments in a historic WhatsApp group involving a number of local councillors and MPs.

“Firstly, I share the widespread sentiments of many in our community that the comments made were truly unacceptable. Like many, I was truly shocked and appalled. I empathise deeply with anyone disturbed by these comments.

“As soon as these comments came to light, immediate and robust action was taken against those involved by the Prime Minister, the Labour Party and myself as the leader of Tameside Council. This was the right thing to do and is of utmost importance to ensure the highest possible standards from elected representatives that our residents deserve.

“An investigation is ongoing and Tameside Labour are committed to transparency throughout this process and will co-operate with any investigations as required.

“When I took over as leader of the council, three months ago, I committed myself to do whatever it takes to improve standards at Tameside Council and that extends to the conduct of members.”

Last week Labour had 48 councillors out of 57 seats in the chamber. This week, due to suspensions, that number is down to 38.

This leaves 12 independent councillors in the chamber, outnumbering the seven Conservatives.

In the coming weeks the council will need to set their budget, one of the most important jobs the local authority has to do. So no matter the noise going on outside the chamber and behind closed doors, for the sake of the community they serve, council business will have to go on.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “As part of our WhatsApp group investigation, a group of councillors have been administratively suspended from the Labour Party. As soon as this group was brought to our attention, a thorough investigation was launched in line with the Labour Party’s rules and procedures and this process is ongoing.

“Swift action will always be taken where individuals are found to have breached the high standards expected of them as Labour Party members.”

The following councillors have been suspended:

– Councillor Claire Reid, Tameside

– Councillor Jack Naylor, Tameside

– Councillor George Newton, Tameside

– Councillor Vincent Ricci, Tameside

– Councillor Charlotte Martin, Tameside

– Councillor Allison Gwynne, Tameside

– Councillor George Jones, Tameside

– Councillor Brenda Warrington, Tameside

– Councillor Denise Ward, Tameside

– Councillor David Sedgwick, Stockport

– Councillor Holly McCormack, Stockport

– Councillor Ged Cooney, Tameside