A LABOUR minister formerly ran a vile WhatsApp group which branded pensioners “terrorists” and hurled abuse at colleagues, The Sun can reveal.
Stephen Morgan, the Education Minister, oversaw a chat group under Labour’s leadership where insults were directed towards elderly protestors and military veterans who were against high levels of immigration.
They also launched a foul-mouthed attack on a political rival and shared memes of ex-PM Rishi Sunak being deported to Rwanda.
This new development adds more strain on the Labour party, especially following the expulsion of health minister Andrew Gwynne and Member of Parliament Oliver Ryan for inappropriate messages in their private chat.
Aside from Mr. Morgan, the Portsmouth South WhatsApp group was managed by Labour’s fellow city MP, Amanda Martin, and included several Labour council members and community organizers.
Just days after the Southport riots over summer, members of the group openly celebrated counter-protesters who ambushed elderly demonstrators in Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square.
The small group of pensioners, veterans, and disabled protesters had staged a silent walk carrying banners reading “Veterans before asylum seekers”.
But instead of condemning the counter-protesters who screamed “Nazi scum off our streets” at the elderly, messages in the chat praised their actions.
Labour Councillor Asghar Shah wrote on the group:“I appreciate your fight against criminals and their fight and crimes.”
Others members likened the protesters to “nazis” and “fascist thugs” before some urged restraint, warning that using such inflammatory language could backfire.
But one member insisted: “They are terrorists who want to divide our community through hate and fear.”
Kim Jones, who was at the protest with her 84-year old mother, said: “It reduced my mum to tears. She was born during the war and to be called a Nazi…
“They don’t even know us, they just brand us far-right thugs, and we’re nothing like that. We’re just normal people.”
The group also hurled a foul four-letter slur aimed at Lib Dem Councillor Lee Hunt, writing: “Only one letter off from what he is.”
And an AI-generated picture was shared, showing Sir Keir Starmer leading a miniature Rishi Sunak by the hand, with a caption reading: “C’mon, you don’t want to miss the Rwanda flight.”
Some of the leaked messages, seen by The Sun, accused Israel of “genocide” and calling it a “failed project.”
One activist wrote: “It is about American and Zionist colonialism. It is genocide.”
Another claimed Israel should cease to exist, stating: “I personally feel that in the longer term, Israel is a failed project.”
The Sun has not seen evidence to suggest that either admin challenged or moderated the language used in the group chat.
Portsmouth Independent Party (PiP) leader Councillor George Madgwick had shared some leaked screenshots from the WhatsApp group at a council meeting in November last year.
Both Mr Morgan and Ms Martin quietly stepped down as admins at the time—but in light of these fresh revelations, they refused to comment.
A Portsmouth Labour spokesperson said: “We acknowledge some of the language used in this chat should be of a higher standard. Portsmouth Labour will continue to campaign relentlessly for the change that residents want, and for the services Portsmouth council taxpayers deserve.”
Labour insisted they would always assess any complaints thoroughly and take robust disciplinary action where required.
But the Tories urged Mr Morgan to urgently “come clean”.
Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mike Wood said: “This Labour Minister has serious questions to answer. Was Stephen Morgan aware of the messages being sent in a group he was admin of, and if so, why did he sit idly by as individuals made these hateful remarks?
“He must urgently come clean.”
Ex-Cabinet Minister and Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt also said: “Politics should be about service and taking responsibility. You want people who believe they can make a difference to their community to be encouraged. This is the exact anthesis of that.”
