An inquiry should be launched into the security of the UK’s nuclear weapons following claims about the conduct of MP Joani Reid at Faslane, the SNP has said.
The party urged the UK Parliament’s Security and Intelligence Committee to investigate the security of Trident in light of reports about the Scottish Labour MP.
Ms Reid stepped down from the party last month after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
This week, reports emerged that Ms Reid was alleged to have been involved in inappropriate behaviour with two naval officers.
The Press Association understands the Ministry of Defence has no security concerns over the alleged incidents.
It is understood one officer – who commanded a nuclear-armed submarine at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde – was investigated over the claims, but was not found to have broken any rules.
The officer is no longer in charge of the submarine, but it is understood this is due to unrelated reasons and he remains in the Navy.
Kirsty Blackman, SNP MP for Aberdeen North, claimed Ms Reid had “compromised the UK’s nuclear fleet and our national security”.
Ms Blackman said: “Given the scale and nature of this matter, the appropriate committee to investigate this matter fully is the Intelligence and Security Committee who should commence a full inquiry as to whether the security of Trident was undermined by this scandal.
“Joani Reid’s behaviour compromised the UK’s nuclear fleet and our national security – her conduct must be investigated at the proper level which is the highest level.
“This Labour MP – married to a man under investigation for spying – caused the resignation of a captain of one the UK’s four nuclear armed submarines and her behaviour with a second senior naval officer prompted an MP to submit a report to parliamentary authorities leading to fears that intelligence relating to the UK’s nuclear deterrent could end up in enemy hands.
“Let’s be completely real about this – Joani Reid’s behaviour has potentially compromised 50% of the UK nuclear fleet.
“The Intelligence and Security Committee should now be able to move forward with an inquiry without fear of prejudice from the Labour Party – that’s exactly why Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer must act swiftly on one of their own and instruct the committee to begin their work.”
While Ms Reid faces an internal investigation, she is not subject to any police investigation.
Her husband, David Taylor, is under investigation by the Met and is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service and was one of three men arrested.
At the time, Ms Reid said she wanted to make clear that she was not under investigation and faced no accusations around her husband’s case. “I have done nothing wrong,” she added.
Scottish Conservative MP Harriet Cross said: “Joani Reid has serious questions to answer over her conduct and whether she compromised our country’s national security.
“But if the SNP really cared about keeping our nation safe, they wouldn’t be pushing to scrap Trident.
“If the SNP get a majority at the Holyrood election they will continue to push for another divisive independence, which would potentially risk our nuclear deterrent and membership of Nato.”
A Royal Navy spokesperson 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.”
A UK Government source said: “This is total and utter nonsense. The security of our nuclear deterrent is unaffected. The real threat to the future of our deterrent is an SNP government in Scotland.”
Liberal Democrat Scottish affairs spokesperson Susan Murray MP said: “These allegations go to the heart of UK national security and they must be taken extremely seriously.
“But the SNP are hypocrites. Under their plans, Trident wouldn’t just be undermined; it would be scrapped.”
