Scottish Labour MP Joani Reid has said she has never seen anything to make her suspect her husband had broken the law, after three men were arrested on suspicion of spying for China under the UK’s National Security Act.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that men aged 39, 43 and 68 were arrested in London and Wales as part of a counter-terrorism investigation. Officers said there is no imminent or direct threat to the public and that all three suspects remain in custody.
Reid, who represents East Kilbride and Strathaven, said she is not involved in her husband David Taylor’s business activities and stressed that neither she nor her children are part of the investigation. She called on media organisations to respect her family’s privacy.
She said she has never visited China and has not spoken on China-related matters in the House of Commons. Reid added that she has never met Chinese businesses, diplomats or government officials in her role as an MP, nor raised concerns on behalf of Chinese interests. She described herself as a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression and free elections and said she is not an admirer of the Chinese Communist Party.
Police said one suspect was arrested in London, while two others were detained in Powys and Pontyclun in Wales. The men are accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service under section three of the National Security Act, legislation introduced in 2023 to counter activities deemed harmful to UK national interests. Searches were carried out in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff, with support from counter-terror police units in Wales and Scotland.
Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London said national security casework has increased significantly in recent years and that officers are working to disrupt suspected hostile activity.
The arrests come weeks after Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Beijing as the government pursues a cautious reset of economic relations with China. Security Minister Dan Jarvis warned that proven foreign interference in UK affairs would lead to severe consequences and said it would be naive to believe the UK could avoid having a functional working relationship with China.
In Parliament, shadow cabinet office minister Alex Burghart said the UK must take a stronger stance against foreign threats, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused China of targeting British democracy and criticised the government’s engagement with Beijing and approval of a new Chinese embassy in London.
British officials confirmed that Chinese counterparts in both London and Beijing had been informed of the allegations as investigations continue.
