Thursday, March, 5 2026 - Joani Reid has stepped down from the Labour Party whip while an internal party investigation takes place following the arrest of her husband on suspicion of spying for China.
Reid’s husband, David Taylor, is believed to be one of three
men detained by counter-terrorism police on suspicion of assisting foreign
intelligence services. Two other men, Steve Jones, 68, and Matthew Aplin, 43,
were also arrested during coordinated police operations.
All three were later released on bail while the
investigation continues. In a statement shared on X, Reid confirmed she had
voluntarily suspended herself from the party whip and would not sit as a Labour
MP until the inquiry is concluded.
“This week has been the worst of my life. The shock of
recent days has been difficult for me and my family,” she said. “I want to
reiterate something very important: I am not under investigation by the police
and no accusations have been against me. I have done nothing wrong.”
Reid said she made the decision after discussions with party
leadership to ensure the situation does not distract from the work of the
government led by Keir Starmer.
“Following
discussions with the Chief Whip, I am voluntarily suspending myself from the
whip this evening and will not sit as a Labour MP until internal investigations
are concluded,” she said. “I, and my team, will continue to serve my
constituents in the normal way as their Member of Parliament.
A Labour Party spokesperson confirmed that Reid had agreed
to cooperate fully with the party’s internal investigation and described the
allegations surrounding the arrests as extremely serious. “These are incredibly
serious allegations. We cannot comment further while the police investigation
is ongoing,” the spokesperson said.
The arrests were carried out as part of an investigation led
by Counter Terrorism Policing London, with searches conducted at several
properties in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff. Reid earlier defended her
husband and said she had never seen anything that suggested he had broken the
law.
“I have never seen
anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law,” she said. She also
stressed that she had no involvement in her husband’s professional activities
and denied any links to Chinese interests.
“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,” she said. “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.”
Reid added that she believes in democratic values and
rejected any suggestion that she supports the Chinese government. “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,” she said
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, although
police have said there is currently no immediate threat to the public
Helen Flanagan, commander of Counter Terrorism Policing
London, said the arrests were part of a proactive national security
investigation. “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,” she said.
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