THE husband of a Scottish Labour MP was released on bail today after his arrest under suspicion of spying for China.

Lobbyist David Taylor, 39, the husband of East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Joani Reid, and two other men, aged 43 and 68, were arrested by counter-terrorism officers at addresses in London and Wales.

Security minister Dan Jarvis told the Commons that the arrests related to “foreign interference targeting UK democracy.”

He said: “Let me be clear, if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account.”

Most China spy scares do not result in prosecutions due to lack of evidence.

Ms Reid, who sits on the home affairs select committee, insisted: “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.”

She stressed her social-democratic beliefs and said she was opposed to the “dictatorship” in China.

The granddaughter of late communist and trade union leader Jimmy Reid added: “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.”

Police Scotland said the three men were taken into custody for questioning by police on Wednesday before being released on bail today.