A Labour MP suspended from the party has criticised government plans to tackle the court backlog after new figures revealed that more than one in five Crown courtrooms were not sitting.
Data shared by Court_Stats showed that 112 out of 516 Crown courtrooms in England and Wales were not in use on 2 April — around 22% of the total.
MP Attacks Government Approach
Karl Turner MP, who represents Hull East, used the figures to criticise proposals linked to justice reforms.
In a post on social media, Turner said:
“112 Crown court rooms not sitting today out of 516 and @DavidLammy is still pretending that juries is the answer to reducing the backlog.”
He added the hashtag #JusticeNeedsJuries, signalling his opposition to changes to the jury system.
Suspended After Clash With Labour Leadership
Turner’s comments come just days after he was suspended from the Labour Party, losing the whip following a series of clashes with party leadership.
The suspension followed criticism of government policy and remarks about senior figures in No 10, with Labour sources citing concerns about his conduct.
Turner has suggested the move is linked to his outspoken opposition to plans to limit jury trials, which he has described as damaging to the justice system.
Backlog Debate Intensifies
The row comes amid growing concern over delays in the criminal justice system.
Ministers have been exploring reforms to reduce waiting times, including proposals that could see fewer cases heard by juries.
Supporters argue changes are needed to speed up proceedings, while critics — including Turner — say they risk undermining a fundamental safeguard.
Court Capacity Under Scrutiny
The figures showing unused courtrooms are likely to fuel further criticism.
Campaigners and legal experts have repeatedly argued that increasing court capacity — rather than changing trial formats — should be the priority.
Political Tensions Growing
Turner’s intervention highlights wider divisions within Labour and across Parliament over how to deal with the backlog.
With delays affecting thousands of cases, pressure is mounting on the government to deliver a solution that balances speed with fairness.
For more information on Karl Turner, see his official website https://www.karlturnermp.org.uk
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