Labour MP Joani Reid has stepped down from the party in the United Kingdom after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
In a statement, Reid said she was “voluntarily suspending herself” from the Labour Party while an internal investigation was carried out.
Her husband, David Taylor, a businessman and former Labour adviser, was one of three men arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, emphasized that she was not personally under investigation by police and had done nothing wrong, but said she would “not sit as a Labour MP” until the probe was concluded.
The Labour Party described the allegations against Taylor as “incredibly serious” and confirmed that Reid was “co-operating fully” with the investigation. Both Reid and Taylor have been administratively suspended by the party.
While her whip is suspended, Reid will sit as an independent in the House of Commons.
She explained that her temporary decision was made to avoid becoming a “distraction” for the government and to protect her children from “intrusion.”
“This week has been the worst of my life. The shock of recent days has been difficult for me and my family,” Reid said in a statement.
“I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been against me. I have done nothing wrong.
“I am voluntarily suspending myself from the whip and will not sit as a Labour MP until internal investigations are concluded. I will welcome and co-operate with any questions and worries the party may have.”
Taylor was arrested in London and has since been released on bail. Two other men, Matthew Aplin, 43, and Steve Jones, 68, were also bailed following arrests in Wales. Counter-terrorism police searched properties in Cardiff, East Kilbride, and London connected to the men.
Following the arrests, Reid, elected in 2024, stressed she had never been to China nor spoken on any China-related matters in the House of Commons.
Taylor, previously an adviser to Welsh Labour politicians, had also run for North Wales police and crime commissioner.
The Herald reported that Reid’s consultancy, Reid Strategy Limited, had received over £23,000 in interest-free loans from two of Taylor’s businesses.
Taylor had also received significant interest-free loans and dividends from other companies since 2021.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by either spouse regarding these transactions reported to Companies House.
Born in Glasgow, Reid is the granddaughter of famed trade unionist and journalist Jimmy Reid.
She spent most of her career in London before moving to East Kilbride in 2022.
The other men arrested have political backgrounds: Jones is a former Welsh government special adviser, while Aplin was a Labour press officer. All three men have been bailed to a date in May as inquiries continue.
