𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Suspended Labour MP Karl Turner is taking Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and the party to an employment tribunal, alleging disability discrimination over claims that colleagues smeared him as mentally ill. Mr Turner, the long-serving MP for Kingston upon Hull East whose whip was withdrawn in March, is seeking a six-figure payout. He argues that senior figures weaponised his past mental health struggles to undermine his opposition to government plans curtailing jury trials.

The claim rests on a novel legal argument. MPs are not formal employees of their parties, but Mr Turner’s lawyers say a political party qualifies as a “trade association” under the Equality Act 2010, opening the door to an employment tribunal. If successful, the case could redefine relations between parliamentarians and their parties, reported The Times.

Mr Turner’s suspension came after months of friction. He led internal resistance to reforms by then-justice secretary David Lammy that would have removed the right to jury trial for many offences carrying sentences of under three years.

Labour sources insisted the whip was removed over a pattern of “intimidating” and “disparaging” behaviour towards colleagues, not policy disagreement. Mr Turner maintained it was punishment for “speaking truth to power”.

Central to his discrimination claim is a meeting with Reynolds, then chief whip. Mr Turner says Reynolds expressed concern that he was “mentally ill”. He claims this was followed by hostile briefings from Downing Street that left colleagues and journalists asking after his mental health.

Mr Turner has spoken publicly about a psychotic episode and a period of hospital treatment years earlier after the suicide of his nephew.

In the Commons earlier this year he accused “the lads in 10 Downing Street” of smears. He sent formal legal letters demanding the briefings stop, copying in the then prime minister and cabinet.

Sir Keir publicly stated that no one should be smeared over mental health.

Reynolds has since moved to the business portfolio under the new government.

The party has previously denied any link between Mr Turner’s jury-trial campaign and his suspension, describing the action as a response to conduct complaints. No formal response to the latest claim has yet been issued.

Mr Turner, a former criminal barrister and one-time shadow solicitor general, has sat as an independent since losing the whip.

He has repeatedly said he remains a Labour member and wants to rebuild relations, while insisting the treatment he received crossed a line.

The case lands at a sensitive moment. Employment tribunals rarely hear disputes involving sitting MPs, and a ruling that parties can be held liable in this way would carry wide implications.

Mr Turner has indicated any damages would go to a Hull hospice linked to his family.

Both Reynolds and the Labour Party face a 28-day window to respond once particulars of claim are formally served.