A senior Labour MP has issued a dramatic warning to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, stating he is prepared to trigger a difficult by-election in his own seat as a protest against the government's controversial plans to restrict jury trials.
A Principled Stand Against "Ludicrous" Proposals
Karl Turner, the Member of Parliament for Kingston-Upon-Hull East, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Justice Secretary David Lammy's proposals to tackle the court backlog. The plans, announced at the start of December 2025, would see defendants facing potential jail terms of less than three years lose the automatic right to a trial by a jury of their peers—a right with an 800-year history in English law.
This change could apply to offences including burglary and certain sex crimes. In a powerful interview with the Sunday Times published on January 11, 2026, Turner revealed his personal connection to the issue. He disclosed that 23 years ago, while working as an antiques dealer, he was charged with handling stolen goods.
"I was advised by my legal team to 'elect for a jury trial' because of the strength of the evidence against me," Turner recalled. The case was ultimately dismissed before reaching trial, but the experience was pivotal, leading him to study law and later enter Parliament.
Political Gamble in a Marginal Seat
Turner's threat carries significant political risk. He told the newspaper he is "not fearful of having the whip removed" and has informed Labour party whips that he could force a by-election to make his "principled point." Such a move would put his seat, which he won in the 2024 general election with a majority of 3,920, immediately into play.
According to the political forecaster Electoral Calculus, Labour's current chance of holding Hull East in a by-election is a mere 6%, with Reform UK forecast at a 93% likelihood of winning. Reform finished second in the constituency in 2024, making Turner's threat a potent one for the Labour leadership.
"That's why I am able to say to the PM that I am ashamed of him and I am ashamed of David Lammy," Turner stated. "The government must stop these ludicrous proposals and get on with the hard job of sorting out the criminal justice system."
Backlash Across the Commons
Lammy's proposals have sparked anger from MPs across the political spectrum. The Justice Secretary argues the radical step is necessary to address a mammoth backlog of 80,000 cases in England's courts, where some trials are now scheduled as far away as 2030.
He has sought to reassure critics, telling MPs: "I'm clear jury trials will continue to be the cornerstone of the system for the most serious offences… this will include rape, murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, robbery and arson with intent to kill."
However, the reassurance has done little to quell the rebellion. The plans, originally suggested by former judge Sir Brian Leveson in a review of the justice system, have drawn fierce criticism. A left-wing Labour backbencher even compared Lammy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick accused the government of thinking "it has a mandate to rip up centuries of jury trials."
Turner's ultimatum now presents Keir Starmer with a direct challenge: manage a rebellion rooted in a fundamental principle of British justice or face a potentially disastrous by-election in a key region.
