Scottish Labour has taken swift action to suspend one of its Members of the Scottish Parliament, Colin Smyth, after he was charged by police in connection with alleged indecent images.
The South Scotland representative was arrested by officers from Police Scotland's specialist crime division. He has since been released from custody on an undertaking, with a future court appearance scheduled.
A spokesperson for Scottish Labour confirmed the party's immediate response, stating: 'Colin Smyth has been suspended from the Scottish Labour Party pending the outcome of legal proceedings. We take these matters extremely seriously.'
Police Scotland verified the basic details of the operation, noting: 'A 55-year-old man has been charged in connection with indecent images and released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.'
Mr. Smyth, who has served as an MSP since 2016, currently holds prominent positions as the shadow cabinet secretary for net zero, energy, and transport, in addition to his role as the party's rural affairs spokesperson.
The charges represent a significant development at Holyrood, where Mr. Smyth has been an active parliamentarian. He previously served as a councillor in Dumfries and Galloway for a decade before his election to the Scottish Parliament.
As the legal process begins, all political activities have been put on hold pending the outcome of the judicial proceedings. The case continues to develop.
