A suspended Labour MP was given a £2,400 donation by her husband’s firm just three weeks before he was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
Joani Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, received the gift from Earthcott Ltd on 12 February, according to her latest register of interests.
Her husband, David Taylor, is the sole director of the PR, communications and consultancy business and owns 75 per cent or more of the company’s shares.
On 4 March, Taylor was revealed to have been among three men arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
Following the arrest of her spouse, Ms Reid said she had ‘never seen anything to make me suspect my husband has broken any law’.
She also said she was ‘not part of my husband’s business activities’.
It has previously been reported how Ms Reid’s consultancy firm, Reid Strategy Ltd, received more than £23,000 in interest-free loans from two of Taylor’s businesses.
Ms Reid has been suspended from Labour while an internal probe takes place. Taylor has also been suspended from the party pending an investigation.
Joani Reid, the MP for East Kilbride and Strathaven, was given a £2,400 donation by her husband’s firm just three weeks before he was arrested on suspicion of spying for China
Ms Reid received the gift from Earthcott Ltd on 12 February, according to her latest register of interests
According to her register of interests, Ms Reid registered the donation from Earthcott Ltd on Monday, which was within the 28-day deadline for accepting gifts.
The donation was described in the entry as ‘media training’ with a value of £2,400.
In a recent statement, Ms Reid said last week had been ‘the worst of my life’, adding: ‘The shock of recent days has been difficult for me and my family.
‘I want to reiterate something very important: I am not under investigation by the police and no accusations have been against me.
‘I have done nothing wrong. I love my country.’
Ms Reid said she was ‘voluntarily suspending myself’ from the Labour whip and would not sit as a Labour MP ‘until internal investigations are concluded’.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: ‘Joani Reid has agreed to fully co-operate with the Labour Party’s investigation into these matters.’
Taylor, 39, alongside two other men, aged 43 and 68, were arrested by counter-terrorism officers at addresses in London and Wales last Wednesday.
They have been released on bail until May, the Metropolitan Police said. He was listed as a ‘lobbyist’ on Ms Reid’s registered interests.
Immediately after her husband’s arrest, Ms Reid said: ‘I have never been to China. I have never spoken on China or China related matters in the Commons.
‘I have never asked a question on China-related matters.
‘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.
‘I am a social democrat who believes in freedom of expression, free trade unions and free elections.
‘I am not any sort of admirer or apologist for the Chinese Communist party’s dictatorship.’
