Joani Reid, a Scottish Labour Member of Parliament, has left the party’s parliamentary faction after her husband was charged with spying for China. The move follows the arrest of her spouse, lobbyist David Taylor, who was detained Wednesday alongside two other men in London and Wales in an investigation into assisting a foreign intelligence agency, police said.
In a statement released last night, Reid called the week the “worst of her life” and said she was voluntarily relinquishing her parliamentary mandate. She stressed that she is not under police investigation and has not been charged with any offense.
Earlier, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar noted that the situation involving the husband of the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven is deeply concerning. He stated that a party commission is weighing potential actions, including Reid’s suspension.
According to internal sources, the Labour Party has initiated a review procedure regarding all of Joani Reid’s contacts and meetings related to her parliamentary work, particularly those that may have pertained to foreign policy and security. As Anas Sarwar noted, the party’s disciplinary commission will examine whether the member violated Section 2.V of the Labour Code of Conduct, which requires MPs to avoid actions that could damage the party’s reputation. A decision on Reid’s status within the party is expected within the next ten business days.