Police arrest Labour MP’s husband in China spy probe

Three men – one of whom is the partner of a sitting Labour MP and former ministerial special advisor – have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

- DAN HAYGARTH DAVID MADDOX

The men were arrested yesterday on suspicion of assisting China’s foreign intelligence service, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

Counter Terrorism Policing London arrested a 39-year-old man at an address in London, a 68-year-old man in Powys in central Wales, and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, south Wales.

Labour MP Joani Reid, whose husband David Taylor is one of the people arrested, said: “I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law.

“I am not part of my husband’s business activities, and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are. Above all I expect media organisations to respect my children’s privacy.”

Those arrested were taken into police custody, where they remain. Officers have searched the addresses where the men were arrested and have also carried out searches at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride, and Cardiff.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.