Police have released the husband of a Labour MP and two other men on bail after arresting them on suspicion of spying for China.
The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command arrested David Taylor, 39, on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Taylor is married to Labour MP for East Kilbrade and Strathaven Joani Reid.
Police also arrested two other men, aged 43 and 68, during the operation. All three men are believed to have links to the Labour Party. Officers later released them on bail until May while enquiries continue.
The Metropolitan Police arrested the suspects at addresses in London and Wales. Officers detained the 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, south Wales, and arrested the 68-year-old in Powys. As part of the counter-terrorism investigation, police also searched several properties in London, Cardiff and East Kilbride.
The investigation was led by Met Police’s counter terrorism command
Taylor appears as a lobbyist on Reid’s register of interests. Reid serves on the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.
Following the arrest, Reid said she had “never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law” and stressed that she has no personal or parliamentary links to China.
Government reaction
Security minister Dan Jarvis told MPs that the government had formally reprimanded Chinese officials in both London and Beijing amid broader concerns about foreign interference targeting UK democracy.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining talk during their meeting in Shanghai, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
He said: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.”
He added: “The Government is taking robust action to ensure the UK’s democratic institutions and processes are a hard target for this activity.”
Commander Helen Flanagan said police do not believe the arrests relate to any “imminent or direct threat”.
Police continue to investigate the case.
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HeadlineNo time to spy: Hubby of MP bailed after China spy arrest
Short HeadlineGovernment warn “severe consequences” for China if they attempted to interfere with UK affairs
StandfirstThree men from England and Wales have been released on bail following a counter-terrorism investigation
Police have released the husband of a Labour MP and two other men on bail after arresting them on suspicion of spying for China.
The Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command arrested David Taylor, 39, on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service. Taylor is married to Labour MP for East Kilbrade and Strathaven Joani Reid.
Police also arrested two other men, aged 43 and 68, during the operation. All three men are believed to have links to the Labour Party. Officers later released them on bail until May while enquiries continue.
The Metropolitan Police arrested the suspects at addresses in London and Wales. Officers detained the 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, south Wales, and arrested the 68-year-old in Powys. As part of the counter-terrorism investigation, police also searched several properties in London, Cardiff and East Kilbride.
The investigation was led by Met Police’s counter terrorism command
Taylor appears as a lobbyist on Reid’s register of interests. Reid serves on the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.
Following the arrest, Reid said she had “never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law” and stressed that she has no personal or parliamentary links to China.
Government reaction
Security minister Dan Jarvis told MPs that the government had formally reprimanded Chinese officials in both London and Beijing amid broader concerns about foreign interference targeting UK democracy.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left, and Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining talk during their meeting in Shanghai, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)
He said: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.”
He added: “The Government is taking robust action to ensure the UK’s democratic institutions and processes are a hard target for this activity.”
Commander Helen Flanagan said police do not believe the arrests relate to any “imminent or direct threat”.
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