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. The married officer exchanged flirtatious messages with Reid, prompting a navy probe into potential blackmail risks, the Financial Times first reported.
The investigation, launched for due diligence, found the messages were inappropriate but did not breach military rules. The officer withdrew from his duties this week for personal reasons but remains in the 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. She allegedly behaved inappropriately towards a senior officer after becoming heavily intoxicated in the officers’ mess, according to the Times.
The MP who reported Reid’s behaviour said they feared 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 claims as “opportunistic hypocrisy”, noting the delay between the events and the report. The Royal Navy declined to comment on individual cases, stating that the security of the nuclear deterrent is its highest priority.
