Starmer forced into mini-reshuffle after sacking Gwynne over 'vile' WhatsApp scandal

He has been replaced by Ashley Dalton, with Douglas Alexander joining the Cabinet Office.

Lord Moraes will now serve as Lord-in-Waiting alongside Lord Wilson.

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan also issued a grovelling apology yesterday after being named as a member of the "Trigger Me Timbers" groupchat.

Ryan, who was serving as a Tameside Councillor when the messages were sent, said: "I did not see every message, but I accept responsibility for not being more proactive in challenging what was said.

"I also made some comments myself which I deeply regret and would not make today and for that, I wholeheartedly apologise."

He added: "Some of the comments made in that group were completely unacceptable, and I fully condemn them.

"I regret not speaking out at the time, and I recognise that failing to do so was wrong."

Ryan is expected to face a grilling from the Chief Whip's office over his involvement in the "Trigger Me Timbers" chat.

Gwynne, who issued a separate apology over the weekend, is now waiting to see if the messages could be taken up by Greater Manchester Police.

A spokesman for the force said: "We have received a small number of complaints relating to publicised messages allegedly from a WhatsApp group.

"A non-crime hate incident has been recorded and we are in contact with our Parliamentary liaison as part of our initial enquiries."

However, Gwynne's replacement as Health Minister raised eyebrows over her comments about gender transition.

In a social media exchange in 2016, the West Lancashire MP said that Britons should take suggestions of people identifying as a llama seriously.

She said: "Yes. And treat you with dignity and respect."

Responding to the resurfaced comments, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "Comments made by MPs are one for the Labour Party, not for me. But you've got the Government's position on gender more broadly."