Royal Navy officer steps back from duties amid flirtation-linked spy inquiry

01 April 2026 , 16:03

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A Royal Navy captain responsible for one of Britain’s nuclear-armed submarines stepped down from his role due to his relationship with MP Joani Reid, whose husband is facing accusations of spying for China.

The senior officer, who is married, was investigated by the navy last year over his interactions with Reid after their messages, deemed inappropriate, raised concerns of a potential blackmail risk, the Financial Times first reported.

The investigation, initiated as part of “due diligence,” concluded that the pair had exchanged messages regarded as flirtatious. It did not find that the officer violated any military rules. Although he stepped back from his duties this week reportedly for personal reasons, he has not left the service.

The two are believed to have been acquainted before Reid became a Labour MP in 2024. Separately, Reid reportedly left the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme due to concerns about her conduct during a visit to HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, the location of Britain’s nuclear arsenal.

During a visit last year, she allegedly acted inappropriately towards a senior naval officer after becoming heavily intoxicated at an evening in the officers’ mess, according to the Times.

The MP who reported Reid’s alleged behavior to parliamentary authorities stated they did so because of fears that sensitive information about Britain’s nuclear capabilities could have ended up in adversary hands.

This follows Reid’s husband, David Taylor, being arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China, which he denies. New security checks were performed following his arrest.

Reid subsequently resigned the Labour whip following her husband’s arrest while an investigation takes place. Her husband, Taylor, was arrested earlier this month under the National Security Act along with two other men, aged 43 and 68. Taylor was formerly a special adviser to Labour peer Peter Hain when he was secretary of state for Wales and has worked as a lobbyist with a company called Earthcott.

Following Taylor’s arrest, Reid stated: “Neither I nor my children are part of this investigation and we should not be treated by media organizations as though we are.”

“As far as I am aware I have never met any Chinese businesses while I have been an MP, any Chinese diplomats or government employees, nor have I raised any concern with ministers or anyone else on behalf of, even coincidentally, Chinese interests.”

Reid’s alleged behavior on the parliamentary trip was reported before her husband’s arrest.

A source close to her told the Times that the claims she had been reported due to national security concerns were “opportunistic hypocrisy, as demonstrated by the nearly one-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 stated: “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.”