MSP charged with indecent images

MSP Colin Smyth says he was ‘shocked’ to be arrested and charged with possession of indecent images.

Mr Smyth, 52, who grew up in and still lives in Dumfries, has represented the South of Scotland region for the Labour party at Holyrood since 2016.

But he has now been suspended by the party after he was arrested at home earlier this month.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “On Tuesday, August 5, 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.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Office added: “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.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr Smyth said: “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 for the privacy of my family and friends to be respected.”

Meanwhile, a Labour Party spokesperson confirmed: “The whip has been removed from Colin Smyth MSP, pending an investigation.

“We cannot comment further on this matter while the investigation is ongoing.”

And as of Wednesday he was listed as an independent on the Scottish Government website and his listing had disappeared from Scottish Labour’s website too, while his political Facebook page was also inactive.

During his time in parliament Mr Smyth has held several front-bench roles, most recently serving as the party spokesperson on rural affairs until April 2023.

Earlier this month he was campaigning for Labour out in Galloway alongside party leader Anas Sarwar, ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament election.

Before entering Holyrood, he was an elected member of Dumfries and Galloway Council for Labour, representing the Nith ward; and he was previously a modern studies teacher.