Accused labor MSP from Scotland faces charges for alleged possession of explicit child content; party abstains from support, pending investigation.

In a shocking turn of events, Colin Smyth, a prominent Scottish politician, has been suspended from the Scottish Labour party following his arrest and subsequent charges.

Smyth, a seasoned MSP since 2016, served under the leadership of Richard Leonard as the party's transport spokesman, and under Nicola Sturgeon as the constitution and external affairs spokesman. Prior to his political career, he was a Dumfries and Galloway councillor and the general secretary at Scottish Labour HQ from 2008 to 2012.

The arrest and charges against Smyth were made by Police Scotland on August 5, in Dumfries, where he was accused of possession of indecent child images. The Procurator Fiscal involved in the matter is not specifically named, but a standard prosecution report has been received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service from Police Scotland concerning the case.

Smyth's name has been removed from the Scottish Labour party, and he is now listed as an independent on the Scottish Parliament website. He has requested privacy for his family and friends during this time.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Smyth has continued to campaign on social media, posting about a visit to an Action for Children hub in Kelloholm, Dumfriesshire on August 12, a week after his arrest, although the visit took place earlier in July. He also attended the Dumfries and Lockerbie Agricultural Show on Saturday August 2.

In a statement, Smyth expressed his shock at the events and stated that he is cooperating fully with inquiries. He also had a meeting with a local LGBT+ group to praise their commitment to making his area a safe and inclusive place to live.

On August 13, the Scottish Pensioners Forum posted about a meeting with Smyth discussing his members bill for a Commissioner for Older People. However, it's unclear whether this meeting took place before or after the arrest.

As the investigation continues, Smyth is due to appear at Dumfries Sheriff Court at a later date. The whip has been removed from Smyth MSP, pending the outcome of the investigation.