NOT GUILTY YOUR HONOUR
I've known Karl Turner since he entered the House in 2010 as the MP for Hull East. I've thought him one of the most courteous of MPs on any side of the chamber and someone who engages with MPs and staff in the same friendly way.
I was surprised when the new Government announced that it was abolishing jury trials in certain circumstances as there was no mention of it in the 2024 Labour Manifesto. Even more surprising is that Labour's chief prosecutor for this controversial legislation has been on the record as being totally against scrapping jury trials when he was Shadow Secretary of State for Justice.
Tammy was on the record as saying in 2020,
"Jury trials are a fundamental part of our democratic settlement...criminal trials without juries are a bad idea"
I would think that a pretty conclusive defence from which any self respecting Minister would find hard to deviate never mind flatly contradict, yet fast forward a few years and a change of Government, and here we have just that.
Karl Turner practised as a solicitor for 10 years before becoming an MP. He knows a great deal about the workings of the legal system and unlike Lammy his view of the importance of maintaining jury trials is not a fashion accessory. Karl has strongly retained the Lammy original line. It is only Lammy who thinks crossing it not much of a problem. Whilst Lammy pressed the jury discard button Karl championed its importance on every media outlet available. His case was and is compelling.
I miss being in the Commons, particularly at times like this. I am one of the very few people who has faced a trial. I stared at 12 jurors throughout my almost 5 week court appearance. It was in these 12 good people that my freedom and future rested. I could see how intensely and seriously they took on the temporary yet hugely important role of sifting through and listening to all the evidence available. They were able to see all the witnesses and myself give evidence and they were weighed down with folders of information relating to the charges. They deliberated after listening carefully to the judge and only after all of this did they come to a verdict. This is what is at stake.
Karl Turner has the audacity though to raise concerns. Karl didn't even vote against the 2nd reading of the legislation when it came before Parliament on the 10th March but along with around 90 of his colleagues abstained. 10 Labour MPs did actually vote against the legislation yet on 31st March Karl Turner was singled out for the heavy handed whip removal. This decision would have been enforced by the Chief Whip but I find it unbelievable if this was not sanctioned by number 10.
The public outcry to the whip removal has been swift and loud. Karl took to social media to inform us of the news stating that he "had not received any notification from the whips about this". This tweet has received well over half a million views, and 1,400 comments, the vast majority of which support Turner's stand. Long standing Labour MP, Graham Stringer, has publicly denounced Turner's treatment and John Cleese has tweeted "well we don't want everyone knowing what's going on and giving opinions, do we?" Turner is being martyred by the very people who want him rid, and his cause will only grow stronger.
Karl has tweeted many supportive things about Labour Party policies and campaigns but he has also and noticeably been an outspoken critic questioning the likelihood of Morgan McSweeney having his phone stolen on X and that must sorely rankle Starmer. The PM had been badly bruised by the losing McSweeney over the Mandelson affair. This, of course, has been followed by the drama of his phone reported stolen and it being wiped of all its contents. Some might call the phone loss "fishy" as Kemi Badenoch has done, but Karl Turner went somewhat further and tweeted he did not believe the phone stolen.
Some in Number 10 must have thought if only Karl could disappear as conveniently as McSweeney's phone, but they've had to settle for second best by removing the whip.
The big question marks over the whip removal will now grow. Does the Labour Party think this action against Turner will deter many Labour MPs from rebelling at committee stage? Will they drill down further against any concessions to water down the bill? Will the rebellion grow after the May 7th local elections and the elections for the Welsh Senedd and the Scottish Parliament which are expected to be beyond disastrous for the Labour Party?.
The biggest question mark of all is in the weeks after the May 7th elections results and the Labour Party are wiped out throughout the country how long can Starmer survive? If Starmer is gone within weeks then Turner will have the whip restored by a new leader wanting to heal rifts. Whatever the outcome my prediction is that Turner's stand, that has led to his fall, will not be his last.
Nigel Evans
31/03/2026