Labour MP Karl Turner Suspended Over Recent Conduct

Labour MP Karl Turner has had the party whip suspended following his recent conduct, according to The Mirror. The suspension was communicated by the Chief Whip this afternoon. This is understood to be in relation to Turner’s pattern of behaviour towards Labour colleagues.

Turner has been outspoken in his criticism of Keir Starmer’s government on a number of issues, and has voiced his disagreement with plans such as scrapping jury trials for sentences of less than three years.

In a post on X on Tuesday afternoon, Turner claimed he had not been told that he was losing the whip before the news broke. He wrote: “I am being told that I have had the whip suspended but I have not had any notification from the whips about this. It seems journalists have been told but I have not”.

Last week, Turner said he did not believe that Starmer’s former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney had his phone stolen. The phone is believed to contain messages from Peter Mandelson.

However, Turner later wrote in a post: “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”.

Turner has also been critical of Starmer for not allowing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Turner has made no secret of his disdain for McSweeney in the past, even labeling him a “lying b*****d” in an interview. His public criticisms and behavior have led to his suspension, generating controversy within the party.

Turner's suspension highlights internal tensions within the Labour Party and disagreements over the party's direction and policies.