Labour MSP Colin Smyth 'put secret camera in Scottish Parliament toilets'

He was arrested at his home in Dumfries on August 5, with his phone and computer being searched.

The Daily Record reported that he has been charged over allegations that he placed a camera in a toilet at the Scottish Parliament building.

Mr Smyth said he was in "shock" following his arrest and was cooperating with the authorities.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman previously said: "On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, officers executed a warrant at a property in Dumfries.

"A 52-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with possession of indecent images. He is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date."

Mr Smyth is now sitting as an independent MSP for South Scotland.

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Mr Smyth said in a statement: "These events have come as a shock and this is a deeply stressful time.

"I am obviously cooperating fully with any inquiries and hope the matter can be resolved quickly.

"I am not able to comment further at this stage, and in the meantime, I would ask that my family and friends are given privacy."

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "The whip has been removed from Colin Smyth MSP, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further on this matter while the investigation is ongoing."

Mr Smyth is understood to have been "administratively suspended" after the party became aware of the police investigation.

GB News approached the Scottish Parliament building and Police Scotland for comment.

Mr Smyth appeared in a video on social media with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar two days after the arrest, but it has since been removed.

In the week after the arrest, the MSP's own X account continued to post pictures of him meeting people at the Dumfries & Lockerbie Agricultural Show.

On August 13, he met with the Scottish Pensioners' Forum and, on August 15, held a "doorstep surgery" with a Dumfries Labour councillor about roads and bus services.

Mr Smyth was first elected for Labour as a Dumfries & Galloway councillor in 2008 and served as Scottish Labour general secretary from 2008 until 2012.

He helped run its 2011 election campaign, where the SNP triumphed to a significant majority.

Since this month, Mr Smyth has been convener of Holyrood's economy and fair work committee and a substitute member of its public audit and standards committees.

A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: "A standard prosecution report has been received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service from Police Scotland in relation to a 52-year-old man."