Labour MP’s partner arrested on suspicion of spying for China

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics on X

Three men detained by counter-terror police in London and Wales under National Security Act.

The partner of a Labour MP has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

David Taylor, the partner of Joani Reid, was detained by the Metropolitan Police and is being held under the National Security Act.

Two other men were arrested on Wednesday morning, a 68-year-old in Powys, Wales, and a 43-year-old in Pontyclun. All three suspects were held on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence.

Searches were carried out at the properties where the arrests were made, as well as at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.

Ms Reid was elected for the seat of East Kilbride and Strathaven in July 2024, and sits on the Commons’ home affairs committee.

She was born in Glasgow and worked in public policy before entering local government as a councillor in 2014.

Mr Taylor, born in 1986, is the head of programs at the Asia House think tank, which develops engagement between Asia and Europe. He is understood to have worked for energy companies as a lobbyist and as a government special adviser in the Wales Office under the previous New Labour government.

Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, is among several senior politicians to have addressed Asia House in recent years.

She spoke at an event hosted by the think tank on Sept 10 last year, alongside Michael Howard, the former Tory leader, and Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader.

Other politicians to have attended Asia House since Mr Taylor’s appointment on Sept 9, 2024, include Labour MPs Hamish Falconer, Liam Byrne and Catherine West.