Labour MP Speaks Out After Husband Arrested In China Spy Probe

Joani Reid said: "I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party’s dictatorship."

A Labour MP has spoken out after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

Joani Reid’s spouse, lobbyist and former Labour adviser David Taylor, was arrested along with two other men – one of whom is understood to be the partner of a former Labour MP.

The Metropolitan Police said the suspects – aged 39, 43 and 68 – were arrested by counter-terrorism officers in London and Wales after being accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

All three men remain in custody and searches have been carried out at the addresses where they were arrested, the force added.

Taylor is director of policy of programmes at Asia House, which describes itself as “a leading global think tank and platform for international engagement dedicated to fostering meaningful dialogue between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe”.

In that role, he oversees the secretariat for the all-party parliamentary group on Central Asia.

According to his LinkedIn profile, he was a special adviser to the Secretary of State for Wales between 2009 and 2010, and a senior political adviser to the Labour Party between 2010 and 2012.

Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, said: “I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.

“I am not part of my husband’s business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are. Above all I expect media organisations to respect my children’s privacy.”

She continued: “I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China related matters in the Commons. 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.

“I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections. I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party’s dictatorship.”

Updating the Commons, security minister Dan Jarvis said there will be “severe consequences” if it is proven that China attempted to interfere with UK sovereign affairs.

He said the investigation “relates to China” and “foreign interference targeting UK democracy”.

He told MPs: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.”

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