MSP resigns from Holyrood committee amid ‘secret camera’ and indecent images charges

MSP Colin Smyth has resigned as a member of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. 

The South of Scotland MSP is accused of placing a secret camera in the Holyrood toilets and possessing indecent images.  

Smyth, who had served as convener of the committee, was set to face a motion in the name of Michelle Thomson to remove him from the role. 

It comes after a full sweep of the Scottish Parliament facilities was conducted by police. Parliament authorities said no covert recording devices had been found. 

Smyth, 52, was suspended by Labour earlier this month after he was charged with possessing indecent images and is due to appear in court at a later date. His parliament pass was deactivated last week after it emerged he faces a further charge of hiding a camera in a toilet. 

Smyth has refuted the claims, saying the accusations came as an “utter shock”. 

On Friday, Holyrood’s chief executive officer emailed staff to confirm that the police search was extended to include the creche and education centre. 

The email read: “Having conducted that search, Police Scotland confirmed no covert devices were found. Going forward, we have instructed that enhanced additional checks to our existing security sweep of the building be carried out to provide reassurance to building users.”  

In a statement, Smyth said: “This allegation has come as an utter shock and one I strongly refute.  

“For legal reasons, I can't respond to specific matters or speculation, and I appreciate there is a process to go through which I am, of course, fully cooperating with. But I sincerely hope it can be concluded quickly and fairly.  

“The speculation and the recent decision by the police to publicly release details of their ongoing inquiries along with my home address has been devastating and has taken a serious toll on my health. 

“After my address was published with no warning to my family, I felt I had no choice but to move away to protect them. That has also meant losing the local NHS critical support I had been receiving for the past few weeks, making an already difficult time even more distressing. 

“I would therefore ask that the privacy of myself, but above all my family and friends, is respected while this matter is resolved. Having this hanging over them is especially overwhelming.” 

Speaking at Glasgow Caledonian University on Monday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “It’s deeply distressing and shocking for all of us and for people across the parliamentary estate, no doubt. 

“As soon as we became aware of the seriousness of the allegations, Colin Smyth was suspended. He now sits as an independent MSP. 

“This is, of course, an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on any questions about the parliament.”