Colin Smyth, who has also been charged over a hidden camera in a Holyrood toilet, was able to use his MSP pass for the visit this month.
Colin Smyth(Image: Getty Images)
Holyrood bosses have been blasted for allowing MSP Colin Smyth to enter the Parliament building after he was charged with possessing indecent images of children.
Smyth, who has also been charged over a hidden camera in a Holyrood toilet, was able to use his MSP pass for the visit this month.
Police Scotland said Smyth, elected as a Labour MSP at the last two Holyrood elections, was charged on August 5th over possessing indecent images.
Now the Record can reveal that Smyth attended Parliament after August 5th and was able to freely use the facilities.
Parliament bosses said they revoked Smyth’s Holyrood pass on Thursday after the Record approached them over claims about a hidden recording device in a bathroom.
Smyth confirmed last night that he had visited Holyrood after being charged, saying: “This was a request by constituents to visit Parliament that was in the diary for months.”
Smyth also denied the camera allegations, saying: “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.
“After my address was published with no warning to my family, I felt I had no choice but to move away to protect them. That has also meant losing the local NHS critical support I had been receiving for the past few weeks, making an already difficult time even more distressing.
“I would therefore ask that the privacy of myself, but above all my family and friends, is respected while this matter is resolved. Having this hanging over them is especially overwhelming.”
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Critics hit out at the Parliament for only deactivating Smyth’s pass on Thursday weeks after he was charged.
Ash Regan MSP said: “It is right that justice must take its course, but it is deeply troubling that Colin Smyth’s parliamentary pass was only revoked yesterday, weeks after he was charged with possession of indecent images. Given the serious nature of the charges followed by the shocking discovery of a camera in a Holyrood toilet, people are entitled to ask why action was delayed, leaving staff and members vulnerable to risk.
“Parliament must now commit to an urgent review of its security protocols and decision-making processes. Nothing is more important than the safety and trust of those who work and visit here and lessons must be learned and implemented immediately to restore confidence that such a disturbing breach of trust can never happen again in our Parliament.”
Another MSP raged: “Colin Smyth should have been blocked from entering Parliament as soon as these serious allegations emerged. Everyone is questioning why it took the governing Corporate Body so long to deactivate his pass.”
A second MSP accused Holyrood’s governing corporate body of dithering, saying: “There are serious questions for the parliamentary authorities to answer on why they felt it was appropriate to allow someone charged with serious offences relating to children to access to the estate.”
Senior figures across the political divide are bracing themselves for MSPs to be interviewed as part of the ongoing police probe, in case they are part of any footage.
It is understood at least one MSP has been interviewed by cops as a potential victim over footage showing a man urinating in a bathroom.
Ross Greer, a West Scotland MSP and one of the Scottish Greens’ new co-leaders, said the building’s users “all feel deeply, deeply violated right now”.
He said: “I feel sick to my stomach, and I know that every other user of the building – MSP, staff, visitor, journalist – feels the same way.
“None of us know whether we’ve been directly affected by this yet and I hope that we will get answers on that.”
Smyth was suspended by Labour earlier this month and currently sits as an independent.
Meanwhile, Holyrood authorities have said no covert device was “found” after a police sweep of the bathroom and changing rooms at the Parliament this week.
In a joint statement, Presiding Office Alison Johnstone and Parliament chief executive David McGill emailed building users, telling them: “You will have read the deeply concerning reports in the media this morning and we understand the unease and anxiety this will be causing you.
“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.
“Please be assured that our priority is your safety and welfare and please be confident to use the building as you would normally.
“We do realise this is a difficult time for building users and will write with further information later. Do not hesitate to contact us if there is any support or advice we can provide.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On Tuesday, 5 August, 2025, officers executed a warrant at a property in Dumfries and a 52-year-old man was arrested and charged as part of an ongoing investigation. He is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date.”
A Labour Party 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.”
A spokesperson for the parliament said: “The Chief Executive of the Parliament has been assisting Police Scotland with the investigation of potential criminal matters at the Parliament since 8 August. It was important to let that take its course. Neither the identity of the suspect under investigation or details of the charges were disclosed in the course of that process.
“It was only on 20 August when the story first broke in the press that the Chief Executive and the Parliament got confirmation of the charges and the person against whom they had been made.”
Five questions the parliament must answer
Why was Colin Smyth’s pass only deactivated this week when he was charged on August 5th?
How many times has he been in Parliament since August 5th?
Which groups did he meet when he was there?
What support is being provided to staff and building users concerned about our exclusive story?
Does the Parliament admit to mistakes in its handling of this situation?