Royal Navy captain steps back from duties over link to MP whose husband faces China spy claims

A Royal Navy captain in charge of one of Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines stepped back from his duties over his relationship with the MP Joani Reid, whose husband faces allegations of spying for China.The married senior officer was investigated by the navy last year over his contact with Reid after the messages, described as inappropriate, prompted an assessment of a potential blackmail risk, the Financial Times first reported.The investigation, launched because of “due diligence”, found the pair had exchanged messages described as flirtatious. It did not find the officer to have broken any military rules. Although he withdrew from his duties this week reportedly for personal reasons, he has not left the service.The pair are understood to have known each other prior to Reid becoming a Labour MP in 2024. Separately, Reid reportedly stepped down from the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme after concerns about her behaviour during a visit to HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, which is home to Britain’s nuclear weapons.HMS Artful, an Astute-class nuclear-powered fleet submarine, at HM Naval Base Clyde last year. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesDuring a trip last year she allegedly behaved inappropriately towards a senior naval officer after becoming heavily intoxicated during an evening in the officers’ mess, according to the Times.The MP who reported Reid’s alleged behaviour to parliamentary authorities said they had done so out of fear sensitive information about Britain’s nuclear capabilities could have ended up in enemy hands.Reid’s husband, David Taylor, was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China, allegations he denies. Fresh security checks were carried out after his arrest, and Reid resigned the Labour whip while an investigation is carried out.Taylor was arrested earlier this month under the National Security Act along with two other men aged 43 and 68. Taylor was a former special adviser to the Labour peer Peter Hain when he was the secretary of state for Wales and has been a lobbyist within a company called Earthcott.After Taylor’s arrest, Reid said: “Neither I nor my children are part of this investigation and we should not be treated by media organisations as though we are.“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.”Reid’s alleged behaviour on the parliamentary trip was reported before her husband’s arrest. The Guardian has contacted Reid for comment.A source close to her told the Times that claims she had been reported because of national security concerns were “opportunistic hypocrisy, as shown by the nearly a year gap between the events and the report”, adding: “many of the male MPs attending had plenty to drink, too, but only the woman is reported. Not hard to see what the real force behind this is.”The Royal Navy 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.”