The MP whose husband was among three people arrested by cops over alleged spying for China has “voluntarily suspended” herself from the Labour Party while an internal investigation takes place
Senior Labour MP Joani Reid has been suspended from the party while an internal investigation takes place after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
Ms Reid has said she “voluntarily” suspended herself from the Labour whip “until internal investigations are concluded”. Her husband David Taylor is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service and was one of three men arrested on Wednesday.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Joani Reid has agreed to fully co-operate with the Labour Party’s investigation into these matters. These are incredibly serious allegations. We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”
Ms Reid said she would continue to serve her constituents in East Kilbride in the normal way as an MP. She said a statement on Thursday night: “This week has been the worst of my life. The shock of recent days has been difficult for me and my family.
“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.
“I understand that speculation and gossip is fevered at a time like this. I do not want the circumstances that I and my family find ourselves in to be a distraction for this government, of which I am proud and in whom I believe.
“I also do not want my children – who have nothing to answer for and who deserve privacy and compassion – to find themselves subject to intrusion.
“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. I will welcome and cooperate with any questions and worries the party may have.”
Taylor, 39, was arrested alongside two other men, aged 43 and 68, by counter-terrorism officers at addresses in London and Wales on Wednesday and have been released on bail until May, the Metropolitan Police said.
He was listed as a “lobbyist” on Ms Reid’s registered interests. He was a former special adviser to the Labour peer Peter Hain when he was the secretary of state for Wales and has since been a lobbyist with a company called Earthcott.
He has also been suspended from the party pending an investigation.
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