There was a cyclist killed here a few years ago that matches the described scenario pretty well. She was in a bike lane next to a large construction truck. When the light turned green she went straight and the truck turned right and crushed her beneath its rear wheels. I suppose it's possible that "jumping the light" would have saved her, but I wouldn't imagine that it's a good bet percentage-wise because of the additional dangers it introduces. Maybe cars running yellow/red lights is less common in the U.K.

I certainly don't think that jumping the light should be the accepted solution. In Portland, they've been installing bike boxes, which I think solve the problem in a much better way. Having cyclist-specific traffic signals is another good option.

Above all, I think it is crucial for cyclists to learn to determine when vehicles will be turning based on clues other than turn signals and when you are unable to determine to assume that the vehicle is going to attempt to hit you. I generally make it a rule not to enter an intersection next to a vehicle that hasn't been behind me while I was moving. I never assume a vehicle has seen me in a mirror or out their side window.