A Royal Navy captain in charge of a nuclear-armed submarine has stepped back from his duties following an investigation into his relationship with Labour MP Joani Reid, whose husband faces allegations of spying for China. The married senior officer was investigated last year after exchanging messages with Reid described as flirtatious, prompting a blackmail risk assessment.
The navy's investigation, launched for due diligence, found no breach of military rules. The officer withdrew from his duties this week for personal reasons but remains in service. The pair are understood to have known each other before Reid became an MP in 2024.
Separately, Reid reportedly stepped down from the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme after concerns about her behaviour during a visit to HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane. During the trip last year, she allegedly behaved inappropriately towards a senior naval officer after becoming heavily intoxicated in the officers' mess, according to the Times.
The MP who reported Reid's alleged behaviour said they acted out of fear that sensitive information about Britain's nuclear capabilities could have been compromised. Reid's husband, David Taylor, was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China, allegations he denies. Reid resigned the Labour whip while an investigation is carried out.
A source close to Reid dismissed the national security concerns as 'opportunistic hypocrisy', noting the delay in reporting. The Royal Navy declined to comment on individual cases, stating: 'The security of the nuclear deterrent is our highest priority.'
