An outspoken critic of the Government’s 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 the Government’s side over the plans.
The Press Association understands the Kingston upon Hull East MP was informed by Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds that he was suspending the whip “following his recent conduct”.
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.
— Karl Turner MP (@KarlTurnerMP) March 31, 2026
But Mr Turner said: “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.”
As well as leading Labour resistance on the jury trial issue, Mr Turner questioned the circumstances around the theft of the Prime Minister’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s mobile phone and with it potentially messages to Lord Peter Mandelson.
He called the former aide to Sir Keir Starmer “McSwindle”.
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