Overview
- Independent investigator Linda Comstive concluded that six councillors breached Tameside Council’s code of conduct over racist, antisemitic, sexist and threatening messages in a private WhatsApp group.
- Tameside’s Standards Sub Committee is scheduled to examine the findings on 2 February and will decide on any actions.
- The councillors named in the report are Alison Gwynne, Brenda Warrington, Jack Naylor, George Newton and George Jones, along with former councillor Claire Reid.
- Evidence cited includes an antisemitic lyric posted by Jack Naylor, Andrew Gwynne calling someone “too Jewish”, and a message hoping a 72-year-old constituent “croaks”.
- The fallout has intensified local politics as Andrew Gwynne left Parliament after suspension, with a Gorton and Denton by-election expected on 26 February.