An outspoken critic of the government and its plan to restrict jury trials to the most serious offences has had the Labour whip suspended.
Karl Turner, a barrister, has been a thorn in Sir Keir Starmer’s side over the plans, which will see defendants tried by magistrates or a judge-only court if they are likely to be sentenced to a term of under three years in prison.
The former shadow attorney general has previously described the policy as “undemocratic” and accused justice secretary David Lammy of being “untruthful” to say the plan is about reducing the court backlog.
He abstained on the jury trial reforms when they had their second reading in the Commons earlier this month, saying at the time: “Today isn’t the day to defeat the government, but we will win the argument as the Bill progresses.”
As well as leading Labour resistance on the jury trial issue, Mr Turner has also questioned the circumstances surrounding the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s mobile phone, an incident which means the PM’s former chief of staff may not be able to hand over messages relating to the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Referring to Mr McSweeney, the MP for Kingston upon Hull East posted to social media last week: "I don't believe McSwindle had his iPhone stolen."
It is understood that Mr Turner was informed by chief whip Jonathan Reynolds that the whip was being suspended “following his recent conduct”.
But posting to social media after his suspension was reported, Mr Turner claimed he was not formally notified of his removal from the Labour parliamentary party.
“I am being told that I have had the whip suspended but I have not had any notification from the whips about this. It seems journalists have been told but I have not”, he said.
The decision to suspend Mr Turner is understood to have come after the MP was given multiple warnings over his conduct by the whips.
Earlier this month, the MP threatened to quit and cause a by-election if the Labour Party suspended him.
He told Times Radio: "I'm not going to be threatened with suspension. I'm already on a conduct warning for having the audacity to say that these proposals are ludicrous. I'm not going to be bullied around.
“If my parliamentary Labour party chief, prime minister, leader of the party or whatever else doesn't want me in the party anymore, fine. I don't mind walking and causing a by-election."
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