Husband of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid questioned after arrest on suspicion of spying for China

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The husband of Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid remains in custody having been questioned by police
David Taylor. 39, a lobbyist was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of spying for China
Reid said she has ‘never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law’
Counter-terror police arrested two other men also accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service
Counter-terror officers searched properties in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, London and Cardiff
The Metropolitan Police indicated late on Wednesday evening that all three remain in custody for questioning
The force said that further updates could be expected on Thursday morning

The husband of a Scottish Labour MP has been questioned after he was arrested along with two other men by counter-terror police on suspicion of spying for China.

Joani Reid’s spouse David Taylor, 39, was taken into custody in London on Wednesday.

His arrest, along with the arrest of two other men, aged 43 and 68, were carried out by counter-terrorism officers at addresses in London and Wales on March 4 as they were accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

The Metropolitan Police indicated late on Wednesday evening that all three remain in custody for questioning.

The force said that further updates could be expected on Thursday morning.

Scottish counter-terror officers searched a property in Reid’s East Kilbride constituency. Police in England and Wales also searched properties in London and Cardiff.

Reid said she had “never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law”.

Taylor is a lobbyist and the director of Earthcott Limited, a PR, communications and consultancy business.

He was a special adviser to Labour peer Peter Hain when Lord Hain was Secretary of State for Wales.

He is also the director of policy and programmes at Asia House, which is a London-based think tank aiming to connect Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in Politics and business

‘I have never been to China’

Scotland

Scottish Labour MP responds after husband arrested over China spying allegations

Joani Reid said she had never been to China and wasn’t aware of any lawbreaking

Reid said she was not a part of her husband’s business activities, had never been to China, and had never raised the country in the Commons.

“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,” the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven said.

The Metropolitan Police said they also arrested the 68-year-old man in Powys, mid-Wales, and the 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, South Wales.

Taylor did not have a pass to access the parliamentary estate, the Speaker of the House of Commons has said.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, we carried out a search of an address in East Kilbride on behalf of an investigation being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London.”

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.

“Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this. Our investigation continues and we thank the public for their ongoing support.”

The arrests relate to foreign interference targeting UK democracy, Dan Jarvis has told the Commons.

The security minister said: “I would like to make a statement regarding the three arrests that took place this morning as part of a counter terrorism policing investigation into suspected National Security Act offences.

“I can confirm that this relates to China. I can also confirm this relates to foreign interference targeting UK democracy. For reasons that you will understand, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any aspect of what is now a live investigation.

“It is absolutely critical that we do not hamper the work of the police or prejudice any future legal processes by what we say in this House today.

“I would, however, point the House to what the counter terrorism police have just said in their own statement, namely, that this morning officers from counter terrorism policing arrested three men as part of an investigation into suspected National Security Act 2023 offences.

“All three men were arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service contrary to section three of the National Security Act. Of course, any decision as to whether to proceed with a prosecution would be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.”