LABOUR MP Joani Reid has “voluntarily” suspended herself from the party while her husband remains under investigation on allegations he spied for China.

Lobbyist David Taylor was one of three men arrested on Wednesday as part of an operation, led by Counter Terrorism Policing London, which Security Minister Dan Jarvis told MPs was an investigation into “foreign interference targeting UK democracy.”

Since then, James Robertson — a former aide to ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson — and Welsh journalist Martin Shipton, who had travelled to Hong Kong with Taylor, have both had their homes searched.

Mr Shipton described the trip as “more of a tourist visit” and “nothing that could be construed as constituting ‘espionage’,” while Mr Robinson said he “co-operated fully with the police and will, of course, continue to do so as long as their investigations into the possible wrongdoing of others continues.”

In a statement first reported in the Guardian newspaper, Ms Reid said: “This week has been the worst of my life. 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.”

Insisting she would continue working for her East Kilbride and Strathaven constituents, she added: “Following discussions with the Chief Whip, I am voluntarily suspending myself from the whip this evening and will not sit as a Labour MP until internal investigations are concluded. 

“I will welcome and co-operate with any questions and worries the party may have.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Joani Reid has agreed to fully co-operate with the Labour Party’s investigation into these matters.”