Difficulties with colleagues

Agree.

No they are not
The person speaking nastily is responsible for her own behaviour.
It is the job of her manager to deal with it NOT the Op and Op actually fell into the woman's trap
People who thrive on chaos and conflict are looking to press peoples buttons so that they can go berserk
They thrive on it and the drama.
Op should have excused herself, said nothing and not repeated it instead of reacting

The bully owns her own words ...

Imagine a fire, fan it and apply oxygen or just let it go out ?

All these posters who think that people should ignore the kind of behaviour described by the OP are part of the reason that workplace bullying flourishes.

I wish more people were like you OP and stood up to people slagging others off. It's not professional or appropriate to behave like that.

I don't know what I'd do. Probably just keep going and wait for the manager to leave.

Yes, I understand. But I have a different perspective to you - I don't think these dynamics will be changed or repaired by formally 'challenging' them or asking managers to do so unless they become genuinely actionable - and probably not then in pragmatic reality.

I wasn't reading OP as needy in any way. We will all have different perspectives on work. You can't make social relations via grievance procedures, was my point.

Op called out the colleague directly AND spoke to another colleague calling the first colleagues remarks inappropriate.

This could be viewed as interfering and triangulation.
Stay neutral -
Colleague is slating others -don't give your opinion , just stay out of it
Absolutely don't discuss with anyone else

That way you steer clear of this type of thing

OP only called out her colleague as this colleague spoke to OP directly to criticise one of their co-workers. OP responded to say that she didn't agree with her colleague's opinion. She didn't insert herself into a private conversation, the colleague addressed her remarks to OP.

OP wants to work in an environment without a clique of bullies who are supported by a very inappropriate manager. That does not make OP miserable.

This is really, really patronising. People can have a full personal life and still want to feel like they are among 'friends' at work yes probably only 'work friends' but it's still totally normal to want that. Don't insinuate the OP is lonely or needy for wanting to work in a pleasant atmosphere. Most of us don't want to be in a snake pit!

You must be miserable OP if you need to be in a workplace where you feel among friends.

The legitimate complaint you've had about something that materially affected your work has unfortunately made your work life more difficult.

But I'd disagree that 'calling people out' about general bitching or gossip is a good idea. It's a type of policing, although you don't see it like that. One main reason is that, as pp has said, it isn't your remit to discipline co-workers,

It's probably too late for you to have got on with any of these women or found out more about each other but 'calling out' the gossip you've described won't get you liked or included and more formal complaints aren't going to change that.

I agree with posters saying aiming to be neutral, do your work and go home will help - as you plan longer term to leave, you'll be much happier.

They’re an established (and toxic) clique all the way up to the boss. Put in a request for a move or find another job because you could be the loveliest person and the hardest worker, but will still be shat on by the boss and her acolytes. Been there, done that and got the hell out of dodge within a year. Twice. The bosses playing favourites are always women, sadly.

This says it perfectly. It is not worth it. Leave and let them destroy each other. They will.

Leave.

It is a toxic environment. Life is too short. Sounds like they always need a 'victim' to bully. It's not you - it is them.

Get put of there, it's not worth your mental health.

Totally unacceptable but very hard to change when the manager is so enmeshed with them. You need to find a new role away from them asap.

Unfortunately I think there is no fixthis. Start looking for another job. I agree with with Miss Deborah. All you accomplished was now they gossip about you as well. If this happens at your next job don't join the gossip. Excuse yourself and don't engage.

I had similar. There's a phrase along the lines "Before you label yourself as depressed, look at those around you."
I saw my toxic workplace for exactly what it was.
Grey rock them and look for another job. There is literally no point whatsoever in doing anything to put it right where you are. They won't let you.

Absolutely this
However the worst offenders IME were both men

Of course they do -then you are the target!
Ditto look out and listen to your colleagues who have MH issues etc
Nope that's not my job and it's how companies/ employers get away with doing nothing

I've been on holiday with colleagues before. I've also challenged behaviour against others- and when younger, probably been on the other side.

I am of the view that if people don't challenge things, it never will change. I am in a big corporate, and like my previous big corporate, we are given training on a respectful workplace and encouraged to challenge it. People do also need to blow off steam sometimes, but if it's getting bitchy and nasty, then it's stepping over a line.

However, challenging it doesn't always win you friends- people don't like having poor behaviour shown up. And in situations where people say, "someone should complain," if you're the one doing the complaining - they might thank you in the end, but they aren't there backing you up at the time when you do it. Still, it's my conscience I have to live with, not theirs.

In your case, I would work on updating my CV (probably doesn't need too much work, as you've only been there a year.) I would look at any available training that might be useful. I'd make sure I'm in a good position to move on. And then I might wait and see if the new manager comes in and see how things shake down. It may just be a rumour rather than reality- do you know for sure, yet?

I worked in a place with a culture just like this once. And left. That level of enmeshment is just not getting fixed. I had to stay for a fixed period due to being attached to a particular project, but the day that funding finished was my final one.

Hi Op I am a retired manager in the public sector. I am aware that you are employed by a sub contractor.
Frankly the people that you work with are worse than badly behaved children and as for your manager sending you an email about team dynamics unless she has concrete proof in my opinion this would not look good for her at a tribunal if it came to that.
If your company has an HR department then you should approach them chances are they may already be aware of these people.
Sounds similar to being intimated or dare I say it bullied.
Good luck OP

This is bad advice. You have more leverage within the employment, and there’s a very narrow window of time after the incident/series of incidents has taken place. Time is vital for lodging cases.

Keep records, including dated narrative to yourself about things that happen, and email them to yourself so the date is there on the email. When things happen, email your manager and send yourself copies. Record everything in written form. You have a case for a grievance here.