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

Joani Reid MP reportedly swapped flirtatious messages with senior officer in charge of nuclear-armed submarine 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. During a trip last year she allegedly behaved inappropri