Vital UK submarine bases rocked by DOUBLE scandal over links to Labour Chinese spy probe

Oliver Partridge
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:34:16 +0000

Labour MP Joani Reid has become embroiled in a double scandal amid links to inappropriate conduct with two separate senior naval officers stationed at a key naval base.

The commander of one of the UK's nuclear-armed submarines stepped away from his duties this week following an investigation into his relationship with Ms Reid, whose husband David Taylor was detained last month on suspicion of espionage for China.

In a separate incident, Ms Reid departed the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme early last year after allegedly becoming "carried away" during an official visit to the Faslane naval base in Scotland, which houses the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent.

The Royal Navy opened its inquiry last year after allegations emerged that the married officer had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven.

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Investigators determined the pair had exchanged flirtatious messages, prompting measures to address any potential blackmail vulnerability - although a source close to Mrs Reid disputes that the messages were flirtatious in nature.

The captain was not found to have violated military regulations and faced no disciplinary action, but withdrew from his position this week when approached by the Financial Times, citing personal reasons - although he remains in the Royal Navy.

Ms Reid and the officer had known each other since they were young adults, and are believed to have met on one occasion and exchanged messages, though all contact ceased in September.

Sources confirmed there was no physical relationship between them, reports the Times.

During a two-day visit to Faslane organised by the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme in January 2025, Mrs Reid allegedly behaved inappropriately with a different senior naval officer during drinks at the officers' mess.

One MP present described her conduct as "very inappropriate" and said it continued after the drinks concluded, while another parliamentarian on the trip claimed she was "extremely drunk" and "all over" the officer.

A female officer helping to organise the visit reportedly asked Mrs Reid to retire for the evening and was sworn at in response.

The matter was brought to the attention of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who serves as a trustee of the scheme, whereafter officials confirmed Mrs Reid left the programme of her own accord.

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Ms Reid's husband was last month among three men arrested by counter-terrorism police in an operation concerning foreign interference targeting British democracy, according to security minister Dan Jarvis.

Mr Taylor, who denies the allegations, was detained on March 4 under the UK National Security Act on suspicion of assisting China's foreign intelligence services.

On the day of his arrest, Ms Reid said: "I have never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law. I am not part of my husband's business activities and neither I nor my children are part of this investigation".

She voluntarily suspended herself from the Labour whip the following day pending internal investigations.

The Ministry of Defence conducted fresh security assessments of Ms Reid following Mr Taylor's arrest, but concluded there had been no breach.

The Labour MP has emphasised she has never visited China nor spoken on China-related matters in Parliament, describing herself as a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression and free elections rather than an "admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist Party's dictatorship".

A source close to Mrs Reid dismissed the reporting of the Faslane incident as "opportunistic hypocrisy", pointing to the nearly year-long gap between the events and when they were reported.

They argued that male MPs present had also consumed significant amounts of alcohol, but only the female parliamentarian faced scrutiny.

The source denied any relationship with the submariner from the first incident, stating Ms Reid does not even know his name and they have never spoken since.

Ms Reid's spokesman declined to comment on the matters.

A Royal Navy spokesman 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".