Scots Labour MP Joani Reid has separated from her husband, David Taylor, who is accused of spying for China. Taylor was arrested on suspicion of espionage in March and subsequently bailed alongside two other Labour-linked men. The arrests were part of a counter-terror police probe, during which officers searched properties in East Kilbride, London, and Cardiff. None of the men have been charged.
Reid, MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, made headlines earlier this year following allegations of inappropriate behavior with two naval officers stationed at the Faslane nuclear military base. These claims were made after her husband's arrest. Sources close to the couple state their separation occurred some time ago and is unrelated to the espionage probe or the allegations regarding the naval officers. Despite the ongoing investigations, the couple share children and remain in each other's lives.
Friends of Reid indicated that the decision to remove her wedding ring was difficult but necessary, reflecting the separation. Images from July and August show Reid without her wedding ring at various public events, a stark contrast to an event in June where she was photographed wearing it. This change in her public appearance coincided with her readmission to the Labour party on June 30, following a period of self-suspension after her husband's arrest.
Reid had suspended herself from Labour in March pending the party's investigation into the matter. She announced her reinstatement on social media in late June. Her alleged inappropriate behavior with naval officers at Faslane was reportedly linked to a visit as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. Reid has denied wrongdoing, characterizing the claims as a political smear.
Separately, a married nuclear submarine captain stepped back from his role in April amid an investigation into an alleged inappropriate relationship with Reid. The Royal Navy probe into this matter reportedly found no breach of rules, and the Ministry of Defence expressed confidence that no security breach occurred. The captain stated he stepped down for personal reasons and remains in the Royal Navy.
Reid, the granddaughter of the late trade unionist Jimmy Reid, has also been photographed with a married man described as a "high profile Holyrood figure" in July and August. Friends claim this relationship began after her separation from Taylor and is not long-standing.