The MSP has been charged in connection with alleged possession of indecent images of children and in relation to allegations a hidden camera was placed in a cubicle inside the Scottish Parliament.
Colin Smyth has been charged in connection with alleged possession of indecent images of children and in relation to allegations a hidden camera was placed in a cubicle inside the Scottish Parliament.
Colin Smyth is living in a taxpayer-funded Edinburgh flat despite being at the centre of a toilet spy cam police probe and banned from Parliament.
The MSP has been charged in connection with alleged possession of indecent images of children and in relation to allegations a hidden camera was placed in a cubicle inside the Scottish Parliament.
His Holyrood pass was deactivated on August 28 and he is understood not to be contributing to parliamentary proceedings after being signed off work on medical grounds.
Colin Smyth expenses screen shots.
Colin Smyth expenses screen shots..
But the Sunday Mail can reveal Smyth is living rent free near the parliament building. His most recently published expenses show claims of £865 a month along with £2,308 a year for council tax and hundreds of pounds in utility bills for the property.
A source said: “Most MSPs just stay in a hotel as and when their work it but given the distance to his constituency Colin has a permanent fully furnished flat with all bills paid for by the tax payer.
“He has been effectively banned from entering the parliament building and is not doing any work at the moment but he is continuing to take advantage of his free flat.”
Smyth also has a family home Dumfries. However after he was arrested he released a statement saying he was living elsewhere.
He said: “After my address was published, I felt I had no choice but to move away to protect my family.”
Colin Smyth expenses screen shots.
At least five MSPs along with several journalists and staff had been contacted by police over alleged secret toilet recordings in Parliament.
Detectives have been interviewing people identified in footage and officers were forced to carry out an emergency sweep of the building.
Smyth has previously denied any wrongdoing. He did not respond to a request for comment.
Central Scotland MSP Graham Simpson said: “If there is no prospect of Colin Smyth returning to Holyrood any time soon then he should be seriously considering giving this up as he has no need for it.
“Parliament chiefs should be discussing this with him very soon.
“MSPs are entitled to allowances covering renting accommodation in Edinburgh, depending on where they live, so that they can have somewhere to stay when they are in parliament.
Smyth has previously denied any wrongdoing. He did not respond to a request for comment.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Swift action was taken after we became aware of these serious allegations. Colin Smyth MSP is an independent MSP.
“We cannot comment further on these deeply concerning developments while legal proceedings are ongoing.”
It has emerged Smyth met a Girl Guides group at Holyrood days after he was charged with possessing indecent images of children.
The MSP who was first elected nine years ago and has held senior roles within Labour, welcomed the teenage girls to the parliament over a week after the police action. He has been told to attend court later this month and he has been suspended from Labour.
A provisional court date has been set for September 24 at Dumfries Sheriff Court. The former Scottish Labour general secretary has said he is “fully co-operating” with the investigation.
Since news of the spycam became public MSPs have been asked to reassure staff working at Holyrood..