Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid has publicly defended her husband following his arrest as one of three men detained on suspicion of spying for China, stating she has never seen anything to suggest he has “broken any law” and insisting neither she nor her children are part of the investigation.
Reid, who represents East Kilbride and Strathaven, said she is “not part of” her husband David Taylor’s business activities and appealed to media organisations to respect her children’s privacy. “Neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are,” she said.
The MP also moved to distance herself entirely from any suggestion of Chinese influence over her parliamentary work. “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 said. She added that she had never visited China and described herself as “a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections,” stating she was “not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Party’s dictatorship.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that three men — aged 39, 43 and 68 — were arrested in London and Wales under the National Security Act as part of a counter-terrorism investigation. All three are accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service under section three of the Act, which was introduced in 2023 to target those suspected of working against UK interests. Searches were carried out at addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff, with Police Scotland confirming it had searched an East Kilbride address on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing London.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the force had seen a “significant increase” in national security casework in recent years and was working to “disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.”
The arrests drew an immediate political response. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch posted on X that “China is targeting Britain, targeting our MPs,” and criticised the government’s decision to approve a new Chinese embassy in London and Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing in January. Shadow cabinet office minister Alex Burghart warned that “unless the United Kingdom stands up to these threats, our country will continue to be treated with disdain.”
Security Minister Dan Jarvis told MPs that if Chinese interference in UK sovereign affairs were proven, “severe consequences” would follow, while also stating it would be “naive” to suggest the UK should not maintain a “functional working relationship with China.” He confirmed that British officials had informed Chinese counterparts in both London and Beijing about the allegations.
All three men remain in police custody. The investigation is continuing.
