Labour suspends outspoken backbench MP Karl Turner

A backbench Labour MP who has been a frequent critic of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government has been suspended from the parliamentary party.

The BBC understands Karl Turner, the MP for Hull East, had the Labour whip removed over recent comments about colleagues that have been described as "uncollegiate", rather than his criticism of government policy.

In a post on X, Turner said he was "disappointed to be suspended without prior discussion" and had asked the chief whip, through his solicitor, for a "full explanation".

Turner has regularly criticised the prime minister's policies, including the government's plans to reform jury trials.

Government sources have told the BBC that Turner has had previous written warnings, but the decision to suspend the whip will be kept under review.

Labour sources say there was a "pattern of behaviour" that led to the decision to withdraw the whip, which means he will sit in the House of Commons as an independent.

Turner said it was "clear" his suspension was connected to his "robust but fair" criticism of the government's policy on jury trials.

He said he wanted to "build bridges with my party, the prime minister and the government" adding: "My commitment to the Labour Party is unchanged."

"My loyalty remains, but so does my determination to stand up for what is right. I will continue to speak out against these proposals because my duty is to act in good faith, according to my principles and to protect the most vulnerable."

The MP has been one of the most vocal opponents of the government's proposal to limit jury trials in England and Wales.

Last year, the MP branded the reform a "stupid idea" and urged Justice Secretary David Lammy to "please God, stop what you're doing".

Speaking to Times Radio earlier this month, Turner said he was "already on a conduct warning for having the audacity to say that these proposals are ludicrous".

"I'm not going to be bullied around," Turner said.

"If my parliamentary Labour party chief, prime minister, leader of the party or whatever else doesn't want me in the party anymore, fine. I don't mind walking and causing a by-election."

More recently, Turner has commented on the theft of a government phone owned by the prime minister's former chief-of-staff Morgan McSweeney.

Messages relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment as British ambassador to the US could be lost as a result of the theft in October last year.

Posting on X, Turner wrote: "I don't believe McSwindle had his iPhone stolen."

He offered no evidence for this claim.

But in a later post, he said: "I got the memo now. Morgan McSweeney was mugged, reported that to the police, followed all the processes. Any questions around this is just conspiracy theory territory, really. Let's move along now."

Labour sources say Turner's suspension was not specifically in response to saying last week that he did not believe McSweeney had had his phone stolen.

Last week, Turner was critical of McSweeney in an expletive-laden interview with activist and journalist Jody McIntyre, who came within 693 votes of unseating Home Office Minister Jess Phillips at the 2024 election.

In the interview, Turner cast doubt on McSweeney's version of events of the phone theft and alleged the prime minister's former chief of staff was "still running the job" in the background.

A Labour source said that many MPs, including some who had defended Turner over his attacks on the government, were aghast at the MP's decision to give an interview to McIntyre.

"That was the final straw even for his friends," the source said.

Addressing the interview in his statement on his suspension, Turner said "had I known then what I know now, I would not have participated".

"I have already requested corrections where my comments were misrepresented."

One Labour MP said that it was "about time" that Turner was suspended, accusing him of "whipping up" criticism of the government, especially on social media.

But another Labour MP, who is generally supportive of Sir Keir, accused the government of displaying "thin skinned arrogance" by suspending Turner.

A former barrister, Turner was elected as an MP in 2010 and served in the shadow cabinet of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

He was re-elected in 2024 with an increased vote share of 43.8% and an increased majority of 3,920, with Reform UK's candidate in second place.