New whip Karl 'will relish challenge'

SENIOR Labour Party figures have congratulated city MP Karl Turner following his appointment as an opposition whip.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott tweeted "congratulations" to his successor in the Hull East constituency over the weekend.

Sadiq Khan MP, Labour's Shadow Justice Secretary, said the appointment was a "vindication" of the "hard work" Mr Turner had done in Parliament since being elected in 2010.

He said: "The role of a whip can be tough, but I am sure Karl will relish the challenge and do an excellent job."

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The appointment followed a mini-reshuffle of Labour leader Ed Miliband's front bench team.

Mr Turner had been Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Shadow Attorney General but, on Monday, he replaced Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane as a Labour whip.

Whips work in Parliament to maintain discipline among Labour MPs and make sure they vote the right way on divisions in the House of Commons.

It is regarded as a significant promotion for an MP, such as Mr Turner, who has only been a member of the House of Commons for less than three years.

Shortly after he was elected in May 2010, Mr Turner told the Mail that hopes of high office or promotion did not motivate him.

"I'm not looking to be secretary of state for this that or the other," he said. "I genuinely want to be a good constituency MP."

Last week, he responded to his appointment by saying he was looking forward "to working alongside Ed Miliband and other shadow ministers" to ensure Labour won an "outright majority" at the next election.

"Only a Labour Government can help the people of my area," he said.

A former Bransholme High School pupil, Mr Turner left school at 16 but went on to work as an antiques dealer before studying law as a mature student at the University of Hull.

After that, Mr Turner worked as a barrister in Hull before being selected to fight John Prescott's old constituency for Labour.