An MP whose husband is accused of spying for China was accused of inappropriate behaviour with two senior navy officers.
Joani Reid is married to David Taylor who was arrested alongside two other former Labour advisers on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.
The MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven has since ‘voluntarily’ given up the Labour whip, although she insists she has done ‘nothing wrong’. Mr Taylor also denies the allegations.
New allegations have since emerged about Ms Reid, including an alleged incident that saw her get ‘carried away’ during a visit to Faslane naval base in Scotland, home to Britain’s nuclear submarines.
The MP was accused of behaving inappropriately with a senior naval officer during drinks in the officers’ mess.
The visit was organised as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS) – which aims to educate MPs about military life – and allegedly prompted her to leave the scheme prematurely early last year.
Joani Reid is married to David Taylor who was arrested alongside two other former Labour advisers on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service
The incident is also said to have prompted another MP who was on the visit to report Ms Reid to the parliamentary authorities after her husband’s arrest, according to The Times.
The MP who reported Ms Reid said they had made the decision out of concern that information about Britain’s nuclear deterrent could end up in enemy hands.
But a senior figure was quoted as saying they were satisfied there was ‘no link’ at all to the China spy case.
Separately, another nuclear submarine captain stepped back from his role this week after being investigated for his relationship with Ms Reid.
The Royal Navy launched a probe last year in response to claims that the senior military officer – who is married – had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with the MP, people familiar with the matter told the FT.
The investigation was required from a ‘due diligence perspective’ to scrutinise any potential blackmail risk, one of the people said.
Further security checks were carried out after the arrest of Ms Reid’s husband, but the Ministry of Defence is reportedly confident there has been no breach of security.
Ms Reid at an event with Sir Keir Starmer in February 2024
The officer involved said he had decided to step down for personal reasons and has not left the Royal Navy.
Ms Reid, 39, and the officer are said to have first met as young adults.
People familiar with the case said the allegations of an inappropriate relationship were fully investigated and the captain was not found to have broken any military rules.
However, he and Ms Reid were found to have exchanged flirtatious messages and action was taken to mitigate any blackmail risk, it is claimed.
Ms Reid rejects that the messages were flirtatious, a source close to her said.
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: ‘The security of the nuclear deterrent is our highest priority, and we have robust processes in place to protect the security of our people and capabilities. We will not comment on individual cases.’
Following her husband’s arrest, Ms Reid said: ‘I have done nothing wrong.
‘I want to reiterate something very important – I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been against me.
‘I have done nothing wrong. I love my country. To serve the people of East Kilbride and Strathaven as their MP and the Labour Party has been – and continues to be – the privilege of my life.’
Ms Reid (centre) during the visit to Faslane, home of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines
She added: ‘Following discussions with the Chief Whip, I am voluntarily suspending myself from the whip… and will not sit as a Labour MP until internal investigations are concluded.’
Mr Taylor and the two other advisers – named by the BBC as Matthew Aplin, 43 and Steve Jones, 68 – were released on bail while police continue inquiries.
Reid’s spokesperson declined to comment on the latest claims.
