Three men arrested in UK on suspicion of spying for China

16 minutes agoHenry Zeffman,Chief political correspondentandTom McArthurGetty ImagesScottish Labour MP Joani Reid has said "I am not part of my husband's business activities" after three men were was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.Reid said she has "never seen anything" to make her suspect her spouse, David Taylor, has broken any law.Earlier, the Metropolitan Police said three men, aged 39, 43 and 68, were arrested in London and Wales as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation under the National Security Act.There is no "imminent or direct threat to the public", the Met added, and all three suspects are being held in custody.Reid, who represents East Kilbride and Strathaven, said in a statement: "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, 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."Reid added that she had never been to China nor had she ever spoken on any China-related matters in the House of 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."The Met Police said the 39-year-old man was arrested at an address in London; while the 68-year-old man was arrested in Powys, Wales and the 43-year-old man was arrested in Pontyclun, Wales.All three have been detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and remain in police custody, the Met added.As part of the investigation, searches were carried out at locations in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff.The Met said the three arrests and subsequent search activity were supported by counter-terror police in Wales and in Scotland.A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "On Wednesday, 4 March, we carried out a search of an address in East Kilbride on behalf of an investigation being led by Counter Terrorism Policing London."The men have been accused by officers 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. An offence is committed if someone is found to have carried out an act to "materially assist a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities", or in conduct likely to assist that service.Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said the force had seen a "significant increase" in national security casework in recent years, but officers were working to "disrupt malign activity where we suspect it".Jarvis said if Chinese interference in UK sovereign affairs were proven, "severe consequences" would be imposed."This government stands resolute in our resolve to counter foreign interference activity targeting the UK from any state actor," he told MPs.British officials had informed Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing about the allegations, he added.Jarvis also said it would be "naive" for anyone to say that the UK should not have a "functional working relationship with China".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."