British Parliament member's spouse, two others charged with spying

March 4 (UPI) -- Three men were arrested in Britain on charges of spying for China, London's Metropolitan Police announced, and one is the husband of a member of Parliament.

The men were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, the Met said in a statement.

Detectives from Counter-Terrorism Policing 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 are all in police custody, the statement said.

One of the men arrested is David Taylor, husband of Labour MP Joani Reid, who represents East Kilbride and Strathaven, Scotland.

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"I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law," Reid said.

"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 organizations as though we are. Above all I expect media organizations to respect my children's privacy."

Reid, who was elected in 2024, said she had never been to China or spoken on any China-related matters in the House of Commons, the BBC reported.

"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."

Taylor is a former adviser to Welsh Labour politicians. He has also run for North Wales police and crime commissioner, the BBC said.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said it had searched an address in East Kilbride on behalf of an investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London said there has been an increase in casework on national security in recent years.

"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," Flanagan said in a statement. "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. Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support."

Police carried out searches at the addresses where the men were arrested and at three other addresses in London; East Kilbride, Scotland; and Cardiff, Wales.