Husband of Labour MP among three men arrested on suspicion of spying for China

The husband of a Labour member of parliament is one of three men arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

David Taylor, 39, who is married to Joani Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, was arrested on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023.

He was arrested in London and remains in custody, as does a 68-year-old man arrested in Powys, Wales, and a 43-year-old man arrested in Pontyclun, Wales.

The investigation relates to China, the Metropolitan Police said, adding that the arrests were supported by the Welsh and Scottish branches of Counter Terrorism Policing.

In a statement following her spouse's arrest, Ms Reid 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."

The MP 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."

Taylor is a former Labour adviser, and was a special adviser during the previous Labour government. He is listed in Ms Reid's parliamentary register of interests as a director of Earthcott Limited, a lobbying firm, and he is also head of programmes at thinktank Asia House.

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Following the arrests this morning, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: "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."

She added that counter-terror officers had "seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years".

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday, security minister Dan Jarvis confirmed the arrests "relate to foreign interference targeting UK democracy".

He added: "We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.

"This involves attempts to obtain information on UK policymaking and interfere with our sovereign affairs."

Mr Jarvis also told MPs that "it continues to be in our long-term strategic interests to engage with China", but added "this is not a question of balancing economic and security considerations".

(c) Sky News 2026: Husband of Labour MP among three men arrested on suspicion of spying for China