Karl Turner jury threat has shaken the Labour Party after he opposed Government plans to scrap jury trials.
The Hull East MP, a former barrister, criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Justice Secretary David Lammy. He called the proposals “ludicrous” and said he felt ashamed.
Furthermore, Turner warned party whips that he might trigger a by-election to make a principled point. He holds his seat with nearly 4,000 votes over Reform UK from the last general election. However, Labour’s decline in polls and Reform’s surge could make a by-election risky.
This week, Turner rebelled in a House of Commons vote on the plans. As a result, he broke the party whip for the first time since 2010, siding with the Tories to oppose the proposals.
Turner argued that the Government’s plan would not reduce the Crown Court backlog. In his view, limited court sitting days caused most delays.
Moreover, he criticised Lammy’s “swift courts” plan as unfair and ineffective. Turner warned that removing jury trials threatens citizens’ legal protections.
Reflecting on his own experience, Turner explained why jury trials matter. He accidentally bought stolen antiques and faced arrest, charges, and remand in custody.
“My legal team advised me to request a jury trial,” Turner said. By the time the case reached court, prosecutors had insufficient evidence, so the court dismissed it. In addition, he remembered Judge Tom Cracknell, who later became a friend, warning him to “be more careful in the future.”
Turner added, “When I say this matters to me, it really matters. That experience shaped my career as a lawyer and MP.”
He emphasised, “The Government must stop these ludicrous proposals and focus on properly funding the justice system.”
The Ministry of Justice plans to remove jury trials for offences likely carrying sentences under three years. It also plans to limit appeals from magistrates’ courts to crown courts.
Meanwhile, a Ministry spokesperson explained that the reforms aim to reduce delays, prioritise serious cases, and allow victims to see timely justice. They confirmed that courts will continue using juries for the most serious trials.
Consequently, Karl Turner jury threat signals a growing rebellion within Labour and highlights an urgent national debate over criminal justice reform.
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