FORMER Labour MSP Colin Smyth is expected to appear in court on charges of drink-driving and causing crashes on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
The former Scottish Labour general secretary and frontbencher is due to appear at the city’s sheriff court on Wednesday.
The National previously told how the hearing was initially scheduled for May 6, but was delayed.
The case is separate to the allegations of possession of indecent photographs of children and voyeurism – allegedly linked to a camera hidden in Scottish parliament toilets – for which Smyth appeared in court in Dumfries last October.
In the Edinburgh case, Smyth has been charged with driving at excessive speed when he mounted the pavement and narrowly missed a pedestrian on November 2, 2025.
The former MSP is said to have collided with a parked car and electric bollards outside the city chambers on the same day.
The offences are alleged to have taken place on the High Street in Edinburgh last year.
He is further charged with being more than twice the legal alcohol limit.
The former Labour MSP was on bail for the child images and voyeurism charges when the alleged incident is said to have happened.
On October 22 last year, Smyth appeared in Dumfries Sheriff Court facing two charges. The first was under a section of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act dealing with voyeurism, which refers to recording someone “doing a private act”.
The second was a charge under part of the Civic Government Scotland Act 1982, which refers to possessing indecent images of children.
No plea was entered and the case was committed for further examination, with the 53-year-old being granted bail.
The South Scotland MSP had previously been arrested on Tuesday August 5, prompting his suspension from Scottish Labour 10 days later.
Smyth was first elected as an MSP in 2016 and returned to Holyrood again at the 2021 election.
A Crown Office spokesperson said in relation to Smyth’s appearance in court last year: “These matters are active under the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
“The provisions of this Act protect the integrity of proceedings, preserve access to justice for victims and secure the rights of people accused of crime.
“Anyone publishing items about active cases is advised to exercise caution as material must not be commentary or analysis of evidence, witnesses or accused.
“Contempt of court carries penalties of up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.”
Smyth, 53, was first elected as an MSP in 2016 and returned to Holyrood again at the 2021 election.
Scottish Labour withdrew the whip from him in August last year.
