The Scottish Parliament has been shaken by a series of allegations against one of its own, Colin Smyth, a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for South Scotland. Smyth, 52, was arrested on August 5, 2025, and charged with possession of indecent images of children, as reported by BBC Scotland News and STV News. The revelation sent shockwaves through Holyrood, but what followed in the days after his arrest has only deepened the sense of unease among parliamentarians, staff, and the wider public.
Just ten days after his arrest, Smyth hosted a group of Girl Guides—specifically, “rangers” and “young leaders,” who are typically aged between 14 and 18—at the Scottish Parliament. According to BBC Scotland News and the Daily Record, the visit took place on August 15, 2025, and had been scheduled for months prior as a request from constituents. During the visit, Smyth was present and interacted with the group as part of their tour of Holyrood.
Girlguiding, the organization responsible for the visiting group, was quick to clarify the circumstances. In a statement, a spokesperson emphasized, “Girls’ safety and wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do in Girlguiding. We are aware that an MSP has been charged by Police Scotland. The MSP was present during a visit by Rangers and Young Leaders to the Scottish Parliament in August. Girlguiding has robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place, which were followed: trained Girlguiding adult volunteers were with the young people at all times, and no girls were affected.” This reassurance was echoed across the media, with every outlet noting that safeguarding measures were strictly observed and that no harm came to any of the girls during the visit.
However, the optics of the situation have raised difficult questions for parliament and the public alike. The fact that Smyth was able to access Holyrood and participate in events involving minors after being charged with such serious offenses has prompted scrutiny of parliamentary procedures and safeguarding protocols. As STV News highlighted, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone addressed the matter in a statement to parliament on September 2, 2025, describing the situation as “unprecedented.” She stated, “Not a single person in Parliament is unaffected… and I just wish to take this opportunity to reiterate a number of points to the chamber. I’m absolutely appalled that anyone would have to face a situation like this in Parliament or indeed in any workplace or in any other environment. We all feel shock and hurt at the recent allegations relating to an elected member and reports of an invasion, a shocking invasion of privacy.”
Johnstone further confirmed that police had conducted a thorough sweep of the building, including all toilets and changing rooms, and found no “covert recording devices.” Despite this, the investigation’s cloud has lingered, with at least five other MSPs, one journalist, and several staff members contacted by police regarding alleged secret toilet recordings at Holyrood, according to reports in the Sunday Mail and BBC Scotland News.
The timeline of events has only fueled concerns. After Smyth’s arrest on August 5, police informed parliament on August 8 about an inquiry into images potentially taken at Holyrood, but officials were not told who was under investigation. On August 15, Smyth hosted the Girl Guides. It wasn’t until August 18 that Labour suspended Smyth after learning of the seriousness of the allegations, with the news becoming public two days later. Only on August 28 did parliamentary authorities deactivate Smyth’s Holyrood pass, effectively barring him from the premises. This delay has led to pointed questions about why more immediate action was not taken to restrict his access, especially in light of safeguarding concerns.
First Minister John Swinney and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar have both spoken out forcefully. Swinney told BBC Scotland News, “It’s an absolutely terrible situation which causes deep unease and horror within the parliament.” He emphasized that parliament has “a lot of work to do to reassure” MSPs, staff, and visitors that the issue is being addressed thoroughly. Sarwar described the allegations as “deeply distressing and shocking,” adding that Labour had suspended Smyth as soon as the seriousness of the allegations became clear. “As soon as we became aware of the seriousness of the allegations, Colin Smyth was suspended,” he said, reiterating the party’s commitment to safeguarding and transparency.
Smyth, who has been a Labour MSP for nine years, has since resigned as convenor of the economy and fair work committee and now sits as an independent, having been signed off work on medical grounds. He has denied the allegations regarding the hidden camera, telling the Daily Record, “This allegation came 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.” Smyth also criticized Police Scotland for releasing details of the investigation, which he said had forced him to move away from his home for his family’s safety.
Parliamentary officials have acknowledged the complexity of the situation. A spokesperson explained, “Any visit to Holyrood on 15 August was not part of a parliament-arranged programme.” They further clarified that the parliament only became aware of the charges against Smyth on August 20, and that legal and procedural constraints limited their ability to act more swiftly. Unlike at Westminster, there is no mechanism at Holyrood for constituents to recall an MSP, regardless of the seriousness of the allegations. As Presiding Officer Johnstone noted, “Neither officials nor the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body have the authority to remove the rights and privileges of an elected member.”
The fallout has prompted calls for a review of safeguarding and access procedures at Holyrood. Ash Regan MSP voiced the concerns of many, stating, “Everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence, but the fact that Colin Smyth hosted a group of girl guides in Parliament nearly two weeks after being arrested and charged with possessing indecent images of children is staggering. This raises profound safeguarding questions about why decisive measures were not taken immediately. Safeguarding must come before everything else. The safety of staff, members, visitors and above all, children, is everyone’s responsibility and must never be compromised.”
As police continue their investigation, Smyth is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date. The Scottish Parliament, meanwhile, faces a reckoning with its own procedures and culture—one that will likely shape how it responds to safeguarding challenges for years to come.
