Colin Smyth | |
|---|---|
 Smyth in 2017 | |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament forSouth Scotland (1 of 7 Regional MSPs) | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2016 | |
| Scottish Labour portfolios | |
| 2017–2021 | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity |
| 2021–2025 | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 1972 (age 52–53) Dumfries, Scotland |
| Political party | Independent (2025–present)[1] |
| Other political affiliations | Scottish Labour &Co-operative (until 2025) |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Website | Official website |
Colin Smyth (born November 1972) is anindependent, previouslyScottish Labour and Co-operative, politician who has been aMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for theSouth Scotland region since2016. A member ofScottish Labour, he served as its general secretary from 2008 to 2012. The whip was withdrawn from him on 20 August 2025, following his being charged with possession of indecent images of children.[1]
Smyth was born in 1972.[2] He is partly ofNorthern Irish descent.[3] He was raised inDumfries, where he attendedMaxwelltown High School.
Prior to entering politics, he was amodern studies teacher.[3]
Smyth became a Labour party organiser in 2003.[4] In 2008, he was appointed general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, succeeding Lesley Quinn.[5] In September 2012, Scottish Labour announced that Smyth would step down from the position at the party's conference in the following month.
In2007, Smyth was elected toDumfries and Galloway Council, representing Nith Ward. He was re-elected to this position in2012.[6] In October 2013, a Labour/SNP coalition was formed on Dumfries and Galloway Council[7] and Smyth was appointed Chair of the Planning, Housing and Environment Committee.
In the2016 Scottish Parliament election, Smyth was elected as anadditional member, representing theSouth Scotland region.[8]
He served asScottish Labour Spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity underRichard Leonard from 2017 to 2021.[9]
Smyth nominatedAnas Sarwar in the2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.[10] After the leadership election, Sarwar appointed Smyth asScottish Labour Spokesperson for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs.[11]
At the2021 Scottish Parliament election, Smyth was supported as aLabour Co-operative candidate for the first time.[12] He contested the constituency seat ofDumfriesshire, where he came a distant third with 4,671 votes (11.4%).[13][14]Smyth was returned on the regional list for South Scotland.[15][16][17]
Smyth backed the UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing for theWinter Fuel Payment, voting in the Scottish Parliament against calls to reverse the decision.[18]
Smyth was selected in April 2025 as the Labour candidate for Dumfriesshire at the2026 Scottish Parliament election.[19][20]
Smyth was suspended from the Labour Party on 20 August 2025, after being charged with possession of indecent images of children, following the search of a property in Dumfries on 5 August.[1][21][22]
On 28 August, theDaily Record reported that Smyth would also be charged with placing a hidden camera in a toilet of the Scottish Parliament and has had his parliamentary pass deactivated.[23][24] He denied the allegations.[25][26]
Smyth is married to Victoria, a teacher of English; they have two daughters.[3][27]