Labour MP Joani Reid 'voluntarily' suspends herself over husband's China spy allegations

Scottish Labour MP, Joani Reid, said she has “voluntarily” suspended herself from the Labour whip “until internal investigations are concluded” after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

David Taylor, Reid's husband, and two other men were arrested by counter-terrorism officers at addresses in London and Wales on Wednesday.

Taylor is a lobbyist and the director of a PR, communications and consultancy business called Earthcott Limited.

He is also the director of policy and programmes at Asia House, which is a London-based think tank aiming to strengthen economic ties between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Taylor is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

Reid herself is not accused of wrongdoing.

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In a statement first reported by the Guardian, Reid described this week as the worst of her life saying: "The shock of recent days has been difficult for me and my family.

“I want to reiterate something very important: I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been against me. I have done nothing wrong. I love my country. To serve the people of East Kilbride and Strathaven as their MP and the Labour Party has been – and continues to be – the privilege of my life.

“I understand that speculation and gossip is fevered at a time like this. I do not want the circumstances that I and my family find ourselves in to be a distraction for this government, of which I am proud and in whom I believe. I also do not want my children – who have nothing to answer for and who deserve privacy and compassion – to find themselves subject to intrusion.

“Following discussions with the chief whip, I am voluntarily suspending myself from the whip this evening and will not sit as a Labour MP until internal investigations are concluded. I will welcome and cooperate with any questions and worries the party may have.

“I, and my team, will continue to serve my constituents in the normal way as their member of parliament.”

It comes as US legislators hit out at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government after the arrest of three men, including Reid's husband, on suspicion of spying for Beijing.

US Representative John Moolenaar, the House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party’s chairman, cited the decision to greenlight plans for a new London mega embassy and the collapse of a case against two alleged Chinese spies last year as having emboldened Beijing.

Moolenaar said in a statement addressing the arrests: “The British Government’s failure to properly prosecute alleged spies last (autumn), coupled with its approval of China’s mega embassy, only emboldens the CCP’s (Chinese Communist Party) espionage activities in the UK.

“As one of our closest security partners with access to American intelligence on China, the UK’s commitment to protecting sensitive information must be beyond doubt.

“These cases should be prosecuted thoroughly, and the UK should rescind its approval of the mega embassy.”

Responding at the time to her husband's arrest, Joani Reid said: “I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China-related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.

“As far as I am aware, I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.”

She added: “I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Party’s dictatorship.

“I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.”

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, previously said the force does not believe there to be “any imminent or direct threat” related to the arrests.

Taylor was arrested in London, a 43-year-old man was arrested in Pontyclun in South Wales, and a 68-year-old was arrested in the county of Powys in mid-Wales, with all three being detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Other properties in London, East Kilbride in Scotland, and Cardiff have also been searched, the Met said.

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