MSP Colin Smyth denies hiding camera in Scottish Parliament toilet

An MSP has denied hiding a secret camera in a toilet at the Scottish Parliament, after being barred from entering the building.

Colin Smyth, 52, was suspended by Labour earlier this month over a separate charge of possessing indecent images of children.

Smyth criticised Police Scotland for releasing details of its investigation and said it had forced him to leave his home to protect his family.

The South Scotland MSP said he was “fully co-operating” with officers and is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date.

He will now face a further charge over hiding a camera in the Holyrood building in Edinburgh.

In an email to staff on Thursday, the parliament’s corporate body said that Smyth’s building access had been revoked due to the “ongoing criminal investigation”.

The Scottish Parliament has since confirmed police conducted a search of the building’s toilets and changing rooms but found no “covert recording devices”.

In a statement, Smyth said the new allegation came as “an utter shock”.

The MSP, who was arrested in Dumfries on 5 August, has held several frontbench roles with Scottish Labour and was previously the party’s general secretary.

He said: “The speculation, and recent decision by the police to release publicly 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, I felt I had no choice but to move away to protect my family.”

Smyth previously worked as a modern studies teacher and has a wife and two daughters.

He added the police investigation was “especially overwhelming” for them.

In an email to MSPs on Friday, the Scottish Parliament said that staff “safety and welfare” was its priority.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone wrote: “We can confirm that Police Scotland, with our support, have conducted a full sweep of all toilets and changing rooms in our building and that no covert recording devices have been found.

“We have also instructed that enhanced additional checks to our existing security sweeps of the building take place going forward.”

The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body revoked Smyth’s access to the building ahead of MSPs returning from the summer recess next week.

It is understood that Smyth could still contribute to debates and vote remotely using a system set up at Holyrood during the pandemic.

Scottish Labour said that Smyth was now an independent MSP after it took “swift action” when the party became aware of the police investigation.

A spokesperson said: “We cannot comment further on these deeply concerning developments while legal proceedings are ongoing.”