A Labour MP who broke ranks to oppose the government’s plans to restrict jury trials has said he is not expecting to lose the party whip – but he does “not care” if he does.
Karl Turner, the Labour MP for Hull East, told Sky News he does not expect to be suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party, despite voting with the Conservatives on an opposition day motion opposing the controversial plans earlier this week.
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Mr Turner, a former criminal barrister who has been vocal in his opposition to the plans, told Sky News: “I do not expect to lose the party whip – but if I do, I do not care.
“I invite them to take the whip from me if they want – at least I believe in something. If they want to take the whip off someone who believes in something, then good luck to them.”
David Lammy, the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, announced last month that defendants who are likely to get a sentence of three years or less will no longer get a jury trial.
He also said defendants will no longer be able to choose a jury trial, and that the ability to appeal against a magistrates’ court verdict to a crown court will also be limited.
Ministers have argued the move is necessary to tackle the backlog of court cases that built up over the COVID pandemic, which now stands at approximately 80,000, and that without action, that figure could reach 100,000 by 2028.
But the proposals have attracted significant criticism from MPs and legal experts, who have warned about curtailing rights and a lack of evidence the move will even help bring down the backlog.
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Kirsty Brimelow, the chair of the Bar Council which represents barristers in England and Wales, told Sky News on Friday that her organisation was in complete opposition to the plans for “pragmatic and principled reasons” – and argued they had been put forward for “ideological” reasons.
“We want to cut the delays and we want the criminal justice system to return to one we are proud of, but getting rid of a deep-rooted constitutional principle, the right to a jury trial, is not the way to do it,” she said.
‘David Lammy has no backbone’
Mr Turner echoed her concerns, saying he believed there was “no question” the proposals were about “saving money”.
“This is only about saving money and that is what this was always about,” he told Sky News.
“David Lammy has no backbone and Keir Starmer should be utterly ashamed of himself for allowing Lammy to fall for this civil servant’s trick.
“We always accuse the Tories of knowing the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
“It seems Keir Starmer and David Lammy know the value of nothing when it comes to the right to elect for a jury trial.
“They need to U-turn immediately, just as they U-turn on everything else.”
Elsewhere in the plans, a new “bench division” of the crown court system, called “swift courts” will be created, where a judge – with no jury – will hear either-way offences that will likely have a sentence of three years or more.
Those offences, such as theft, fraud and assault, can currently be heard by a magistrate or in a crown court where they can elect for a jury trial.
The most serious cases, such as for rape, murder and manslaughter, will still be heard by a jury.
The Tories used their opposition day in the Commons on Wednesday to call for the changes to be rejected, but were defeated by 182 votes to 290.
Mr Turner – who never previously voted against the party whip – was the only Labour MP to vote against the government.
MPs who vote against the government can usually expect to have the party whip removed, which forces them to sit as an independent MP in the Commons.
Last year, the Labour Party removed the whip from seven Labour MPs after they voted against the government to call for the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap – a measure the government has now enacted that will come into force in April.
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A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Victims are facing an unacceptably long wait for justice after years of delays in our courts. This government is determined to change that.
“That is why we are combining bold reforms, record levels of investment and action to tackle inefficiencies across the system – so victims and survivors see their cases heard sooner and get the justice they deserve.
“Taken together, these measures will ensure the most serious cases are prioritised and continue to be heard by a jury, while reducing unnecessary delays that leave victims waiting for far too long.”
Sky News has approached Number 10 for comment.
