SUSPENDED Labour MSP Colin Smyth now faces charges over allegations that a secret camera was installed in toilets inside the Scottish Parliament.

The South of Scotland MSP and former Scottish Labour general secretary lost the party’s whip a week ago when it emerged that he had been arrested on August 5 and charged “in connection with possession of indecent images.”

At the time, a Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed that he would appear in court “at a later date,” but on Thursday, Mr Smyth had his parliamentary pass deactivated by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body as a police search of toilets and changing facilities began in response to the latest allegations.

Emailing building users today, presiding officer Alison Johnstone and Scottish Parliament chief executive David McGill confirmed that “no covert recording devices have been found” in the sweep, but they added: “We have also instructed that enhanced additional checks to our existing security sweeps of the building take place going forward.”

Despite no camera being discovered, however, it is understood that Mr Smyth has been charged in relation to the covert filming allegations.

In a statement released last week, the father-of-two said: “These events have come as a shock and this is a deeply stressful time.

“I am obviously co-operating fully with any inquiries and hope the matter can be resolved quickly.

“I am not able to comment further at this stage and, in the meantime, I would ask for the privacy of my family and friends to be respected.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “A standard prosecution report has been received … in relation to a 52-year-old man.”