Labour MP Karl Turner has whip restored after jury trial row

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 16:08 · Archive

Hull East MP Karl Turner has had his Labour whip restored on a probationary basis after apologising for conduct during disputes over jury trial proposals.

Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Hull East, has had his whip restored on a probationary basis after issuing an apology for his conduct during disagreements over the Government's plans to curb jury trials. Turner was suspended from the Labour Party earlier this year after publicly criticising the policy.

In an agreed statement, Turner acknowledged that his approach to voicing concerns over the proposals had been 'overly robust' at times. He apologised for 'the offence I may have caused colleagues in recent months' and gave the chief whip assurances about his future conduct. He said he was keen to 'move forward positively and draw a line under this episode' given the Party's new leadership and 'renewed approach to managing differences of opinion'.

At the time of his suspension in March, it was stated that Turner had the whip removed due to 'uncollegiate' behaviour rather than his criticism of policy. The Daily Mail reports that the jury trial proposals have since been abandoned by Andy Burnham, who has replaced Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. A Labour Party spokesperson welcomed Turner's 'constructive engagement' and said the party now looked forward to him continuing to contribute as a Labour MP.

How it is being reported

• Labour MP has suspension lifted after issuing apology for 'unacceptable' conduct while leading revolt against Starmer's bid to scrap jury trialsThe Hull East MP was stripped of the Labour whip earlier this year as he waged a furious campaign against the policies of Keir Starmer's administration.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 15:55
• Karl Turner has Labour whip restored on ‘probationary basis’The Hull East MP acknowledged his approach to voicing concerns over Government plans to curb jury trials had been ‘overly robust’.Evening Standard · 21 Oct, 15:22

In this story: Karl Turner · Labour Party · Hull East · Keir Starmer · Andy Burnham

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