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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Labour MSP Colin Smyth charged over indecent images | Labour MSP Colin Smyth charged over indecent images |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scottish Labour MSP Colin Smyth has been arrested and charged over possession of indecent images of children. | |
| The 52-year-old, who has represented South Scotland since 2016, was arrested at a property in Dumfries earlier this month. | The 52-year-old, who has represented South Scotland since 2016, was arrested at a property in Dumfries earlier this month. |
| Smyth has been suspended by Scottish Labour and is now listed as an independent on the parliament website. | Smyth has been suspended by Scottish Labour and is now listed as an independent on the parliament website. |
| He is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date. | He is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date. |
| Smyth has held several frontbench roles, most recently in April 2023, and previously served as Scottish Labour's general secretary. | Smyth has held several frontbench roles, most recently in April 2023, and previously served as Scottish Labour's general secretary. |
| His phone was answered but then died when BBC Scotland News first tried to contact him. | |
| However, Smyth later issued a statement in which he 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." | |
| A Labour spokesperson said: "The whip has been removed from Colin Smyth MSP, pending an investigation. | A Labour spokesperson said: "The whip has been removed from Colin Smyth MSP, pending an investigation. |
| "We cannot comment further on this matter while the investigation is ongoing." | "We cannot comment further on this matter while the investigation is ongoing." |
| It is understood the party suspended Smyth at the weekend when it became aware of the police investigation. | |
| Smyth was arrested on 5 August. He appeared in a video with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar which was posted on social media two days later, but has since been deleted. |