Senior Scots Labour MSP charged over ‘possessing indecent child images' and suspended by party
Colin Smyth - a former general secretary of the party - was arrested on August 5 in Dumfries before being charged by cops and later released.
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The 52-year-old is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'On Tuesday, 5 August, 2025, officers executed a warrant at a property on Marchfield Avenue, 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 told The Scottish Sun: "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.'
He has since been suspended by Labour, and is now listed as an independent on the Scottish Parliament website.
Social media posts show Mr Smyth continued to campaign after his arrest, including visiting the Scottish Pension Forum and the National Farmer's Union Scotland.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also posted a video including Mr Smyth on social media on August 7.
Scottish Labour HQ said it was currently not in a position to comment.
Mr Smyth, a married father, lives in the Dumfries area.
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He became an MSP in 2016 and has since held several frontbench positions.
He has also been removed from Scottish Labour list of MSPs on their own website.
Under Richard Leonard's leadership, he served as transport spokesman for the party and became constitution and external affairs spokesman under Mr Sarwar's leadership.
Before being elected to Holyrood, he was a Dumfries and Galloway councillor.
He was general secretary at Scottish Labour HQ between 2008 and 2012.
Scottish Labour sources said Mr Smyth was suspended after the party was made aware of the police investigation.
A Labour Party spokesperson 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."
A Crown Office spokesperson 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.'
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