Labour lawyers ‘blocked’ from briefing MPs on jury trials overhaul before vote

Karl Turner said the policy position of the Society of Labour Lawyers was that the planned changes were a ‘terrible mistake’ and ‘unworkable’. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Lawyers affiliated to Labour were “blocked” from briefing party MPs to share concerns about plans to cut the number of jury trials in England and Wales, it has been claimed.

The allegation was made by Karl Turner, the leader of a backbench rebellion against a flagship government bill that would remove the right to a jury trial in thousands of cases, before the first chance by MPs to vote on the legislation.