A Labour MP has voluntarily suspended herself from the party whip following the arrest of her husband and two former government advisors on suspicion of aiding a foreign intelligence service linked to China.
Joani Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, announced the decision after her husband, David Taylor, 39, was detained alongside Matthew Aplin, 43, and Steve Jones, 68. The three men were released on bail as inquiries continue.
MP’s Statement on Suspension
Reid, 40, a mother of two, described the past week as the worst of her life. “The shock of recent days has been difficult for me and my family,” she stated.
She emphasized her innocence, saying, “I have done nothing wrong. I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been made against me.” Reid added, “I love my country. To serve the people of East Kilbride and Strathaven as their MP and the Labour Party has been – and continues to be – the privilege of my life.”
Following talks with the Chief Whip, Reid chose to suspend herself voluntarily and will not sit as a Labour MP until internal investigations conclude.
Additional Police Searches
Investigators also searched the London home of James Robinson, a former aide to ex-Labour deputy leader Lord Watson and husband of former MP Gloria de Piero. Robinson confirmed officers visited with a search warrant as part of the China-related probe.
“I co-operated fully with the police and will continue to do so,” he said. He clarified that he has not been detained, arrested, or questioned in connection with the matter.
Police raided the Cardiff home of journalist Martin Shipton, 72, early Wednesday. Eight counter-terrorism officers entered at 6:20 a.m. over a 2023 trip Shipton took to Hong Kong with Taylor.
Officers spent 13 hours searching, seizing electronic devices and his passport. Shipton called it a “Kafkaesque nightmare” and said they sought phones, computers, financial documents, and cryptocurrency linked to a foreign intelligence service. He denied any involvement, noting Taylor’s past advisory roles with figures like Peter Hain.
Parliamentary Warnings on Interference
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle recently warned parliamentary staff about ongoing risks from foreign state interference. “You are a critical part of our defence against foreign state activity. The risks are not receding,” he wrote. “We all need to take action to make Parliament and the parliamentary community more resilient to foreign state espionage and interference.”
The Labour Party described the allegations as “incredibly serious” but declined further comment while police investigations proceed.
