Joani Reid, Labour MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, has voluntarily suspended the Labour whip amid an internal party investigation following the arrest of her husband and two former Labour advisers on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
MP’s Statement on Suspension
The 40-year-old mother of two described the past week as the worst of her life, citing the shock’s impact on her family. She emphasized, ‘I have done nothing wrong. I am not under investigation by the police, and no accusations have been made against me.’
Reid added, ‘I love my country. Serving the people of East Kilbride and Strathaven as their MP and for the Labour Party remains the privilege of my life.’ After discussions with the Chief Whip, she chose to suspend herself from the party whip until the internal probe concludes.
Arrests and Bail Release
David Taylor, 39, Reid’s husband, along with Matthew Aplin, 43, and Steve Jones, 68—both ex-Labour advisers from the Blair era—were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of aiding foreign intelligence activities tied to China. All three were released on bail as inquiries continue.
Further Police Searches
Authorities also searched the London home of James Robinson, a former aide to ex-Labour deputy leader Lord Watson and husband of ex-MP Gloria de Piero. Robinson confirmed officers arrived with a search warrant linked to the probe. ‘I cooperated fully and will continue to do so,’ he stated, clarifying he has not been detained, arrested, or questioned.
Separately, counter-terrorism officers raided the Cardiff home of journalist Martin Shipton, 72, early Wednesday, spending 13 hours seizing electronic devices and his passport. The search related to a 2023 trip Shipton took to Hong Kong with Taylor, who has advised figures like Peter Hain and various governments. Shipton called the experience a ‘Kafkaesque nightmare,’ noting officers sought material linked to foreign intelligence but found him baffled by the focus on cryptocurrency or foreign payments.
Parliamentary Alert on Foreign Interference
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle recently warned parliamentary staff of persistent risks from foreign state espionage. In a letter, he urged, ‘You are a critical part of our defence against foreign state activity. The risks are not receding. We all need to take action to make Parliament more resilient.’
The Labour Party described the allegations as ‘incredibly serious’ but declined further comment during the ongoing police investigation.
