Joani Reid, the Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, has resigned the party whip after her husband, David Taylor, was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Reid announced on Thursday evening that she would temporarily stand down from the parliamentary party while an internal investigation is conducted. Labour confirmed she had been administratively suspended, effectively removing the whip, and stated that Reid had agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Taylor, a former special adviser to Labour peer Peter Hain, was arrested on Wednesday under the National Security Act alongside two other men aged 43 and 68. All three were released on bail until May. Police also raided homes in London and Wales, including that of journalist Martin Shipton, whose phones, laptops, and cameras were confiscated. Shipton described the raid as a 'Kafkaesque nightmare'.
In a statement, Reid described the week as 'the worst of my life' and emphasised that she is not under investigation and has done nothing wrong. She said she voluntarily suspended herself from the whip to avoid distracting the government and to protect her children's privacy. Reid also noted she has never been to China, spoken on China in Parliament, or met Chinese diplomats or businesses as an MP.
Taylor has also been suspended from the Labour party pending an investigation. The arrests come six months after the collapse of a previous Chinese espionage case involving a parliamentary aide. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced criticism over his recent visit to China and approval of a Chinese 'mega-embassy' near the City of London, despite security concerns.
