MP's husband and two political advisers bailed after arrests over alleged China spying

Three political advisers have been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of spying for China, the Metropolitan Police said.

David Taylor, 39, married to East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Joani Reid, along with Matthew Aplin, 43, and Steve Jones, 68, are accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

Jones is a former Welsh Government special adviser and Aplin is a former Labour press officer. They were arrested by counter-terrorism officers at addresses in London and Wales on Wednesday.

Following Taylor's arrest, Reid said in a statement that she was "not part of" her husband's business activities and she had never seen anything to make her suspect he had "broken any law".

Taylor is a former adviser to Welsh Labour politicians and former Labour candidate to become North Wales police and crime commissioner.

He was arrested in London, Aplin in Pontyclun in south Wales, and Jones in the county of Powys in mid-Wales.

Police searched the addresses of where the men were arrested, as well as properties in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.

All three have been accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service under section three of the National Security Act, which was introduced in 2023 to target suspects accused of working against UK interests, the police added.

They have been bailed until a date in May, and enquiries remain ongoing.

The Met said they were supported by counter-terror police in Wales and in Scotland.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the force does not believe there to be "any imminent or direct threat" related to the arrests.

On Thursday, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle sent an email to parliamentary staff warning the risks of Chinese spying "are not receding".

He reminded staff to look at the guidance in place on how to identify and report foreign state activity that targets Parliament.

"Recent cases have shown that foreign state actors still rely on traditional methods to obtain information, including through recruiting of people to form relationships and provide information," Sir Lindsay said.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis told the Commons on Wednesday that the arrests related to alleged "foreign interference targeting UK democracy".

Sir Lindsay added that foreign state actors often target electronic devices and communications to gain information, and simple steps can be taken to make it harder for this to happen.

He told staff that they were "a critical part of our defence against foreign state activity".

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan said in a statement on Thursday that she is aware of the arrests, and that the suspects have been released on bail.

"These are serious allegations and it is vital that we do not hamper the work of the police in any way or prejudice any future legal process," she added.

The arrests come weeks after Sir Keir Starmer visited Beijing, as the government looks to pursue a cautious reset of UK–China economic ties.

In response to Jarvis in the Commons, shadow cabinet office minister Alex Burghart said: "Unless the United Kingdom stands up to these threats, our country will continue to be treated with disdain."

Burghart referenced the previous collapsed spy scandal case involving China and the recent approval of the Chinese embassy, despite opponents warning it could be used as a base for espionage and pose security risks.

Reid is under investigation by the Labour party's governance and legal unit following her husband's arrest, with a judgement due on Thursday.

When asked if Reid should be suspended by the party or step back from her role on Westminster's home affairs committee while the case unfolds, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said these matters were under consideration by the unit.

Reid, who was elected as the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven in 2024, said that she had never been to China nor had she ever spoken on any China-related matters in the House of Commons.

Reid's statement on Thursday also said: "Neither I nor my children are part of this investigation, and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are.

"Above all I expect media organisations to respect my children's privacy."