Second Labour MP and former Tameside councillor was member of 'racist' WhatsApp group

A former Tameside councillor and now Lancashire MP also posted on the Trigger Me Timbers WhatsApp group which was used to share offensive messages between Labour Party members, it has emerged.

Burnley, Padiham and Briefield MP Oliver Ryan was among local Labour party members who posted on the site  where Denton MP Andrew Gwynne shared sexist, racist and offensive messages about constituents and fellow MPs, including Diane Abbott and Ashton MP and deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

Mr Ryan was one of Tameside's youngest councillors when he was elected at the age of 19. He held the Audenshaw seat until 2022 and was elected to the Burnley seat in the general election last July with a 340 seat majority.

From Ashton, he held two executive roles on Tameside Council responsible for statutory Children’s Social Care Services and later Regeneration and Finance.

He joined the Labour Party at the age of 15 and is the son of Droylsden East councillor Laura Boyle.

Mr Ryan is listed among the members of the WhatsApp group, although none of his messages have yet been revealed.

Some reports say another Labour MP is under investigation, although senior party figurs have not confirmed this.

However, at least six Tameside councillors are also listed as group members, including Mr Gwynne's wife Allison.

Meanwhile Ashton St Peter's ward independent councillor Kaleel Khan has called on the council's Labour group to condemn Mr Gwynne's actions.

He said: "I’m calling on the Labour-run Tameside Council to issue a public statement and condemn hate in all forms. Silence is not an option.

"Just last week, from 3–9 February, we stood together for Hate Crime Awareness Week, raising our voices against hate and prejudice in Tameside. In the second picture below, I am stood united with Labour councillors to stand against hate. The question is: will they follow through on what they preach?

"I’ll be writing to Tameside Council Chief Exec Harry Catherall to urge him to take a clear stand against hate in our borough.

"And if any Labour councillors were involved in hateful discussions in the WhatsApp group ‘Trigger Me Timbers’ and didn’t speak out—they need to be held accountable.

"We can’t have double standards from Tameside Labour while the rest of us are working hard to fight hate every single day.

"Tameside deserves better. Let’s stand together against hate."

The Reporter has attempted to contact Mr Ryan.