Labour MP’s partner among three arrested in China spy probe
Three men, including a partner of a Labour MP, have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
The Metropolitan Police revealed on Wednesday that the men, aged 39, 43 and 68, were arrested in London and Wales as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act.
One of those arrested, David Taylor, is married to the Labour MP Joani Reid. Taylor was a lobbyist for Earthcott Limited.
In a statement, Reid said: ““I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China-related matters in the Commons. I have never asked a question on China-related matters.
“As far as I am aware I have never met any Chinese businesses whilst I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.
“I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections. I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Party’s dictatorship.”
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter terrorism policing in London, said: “We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years… Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation, and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this.”
Detectives from London arrested a 39-year-old man at an address in London, a 68-year-old man at an address in Powys, Wales and a 43-year-old man in Pontyclun, Wales.
They were all detained and taken into police custody. Officers carried out searches at the addresses in London, East Kilbride, in South Lanarkshire, and Cardiff.
The BBC has reported that one of the men is a partner of a Labour MP, while the Guardian has reported that another of the men is a partner of a former Labour MP.
A Number 10 spokesman and a Labour Party spokesman declined to comment.
British officials have made formal representations to their Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing, Security Minister Dan Jarvis told the House of Commons this afternoon.
“The government has been consistent and unambiguous in our assessment that China presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom,” Jarvis said.
“We remain deeply concerned by an increasing pattern of covert activity from Chinese state-linked actors targeting UK democracy.
“This involves attempts to obtain information on UK policymaking and interfere with our sovereign affairs.”
Jarvis added: “From the November MI5 espionage alert warning about Chinese intelligence officers targeting individuals with access to sensitive information on Parliament and government, to the attempted interference activities of Christine Lee in 2022, this government will not tolerate it.”
Opposition parties have weighed in on the matter, suggesting that the government had been soft on China after it approved its mega embassy at the Royal Mint Court site in central London.
Ben Obese-Jecty MP, a Tory backbencher, said: “The direct link to a sitting MP however is yet another Labour Party scandal.”