Joani Reid, the Labour MP who resigned the whip after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China, received a £2,400 donation from his lobbying company last month, it has emerged. The donation, declared in February, was for media training from Earthcott Ltd, run by David Taylor.
Reid, MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, said she would relinquish the Labour whip pending an internal investigation, a day after Taylor was arrested by anti-terror police under the National Security Act, along with two other men. She has denied any involvement in her husband's business activities.
A source close to Reid said Earthcott paid for the media training, and that receiving a donation was not the same as being involved in the business. Taylor, 39, was released on bail, as were Matthew Aplin, 43, and Steve Jones, 68. Aplin previously worked as an adviser to Labour in Wales, and Jones advised former Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones.
Reid stated: 'This week has been the worst of my life. I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been made against me. I have done nothing wrong.' Taylor was a former special adviser to Labour peer Peter Hain and has since been a lobbyist with Earthcott.
Separately, James Robinson, a former aide to ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, said police searched his home as part of the same investigation. Robinson, founder of Woburn Partners, said he was not detained, arrested or questioned.
