Colin Smyth

Colin Smyth
MSP
Colin Smyth MSP
	Smyth in 2017
Member of the Scottish Parliament; for South Scotland; (1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 6 May 2016
Scottish Labour portfolios
2017–2021	Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity
2021–present	Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs
Personal details
Born	November 1972 (age 52); Dumfries, Scotland
Political party	Scottish Labour & Co-operative
Alma mater	University of Glasgow
Website	Official website

Colin Smyth (born November 1972) is a Scottish Labour and Co-operative politician who has been a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the South Scotland region since 2016. A member of Scottish Labour, he served as its general secretary from 2008 to 2012.

Early life and career

Smyth was born in 1972.^[1] He was raised in Dumfries, where he attended Maxwelltown High School. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a modern studies teacher.^[2]

Political career

Smyth became a Labour party organiser in 2003.^[3] In 2008, he was appointed general secretary of the Scottish Labour Party, succeeding Lesley Quinn.^[4] In September 2012, Scottish Labour announced that Smyth would step down from the position at the party's conference in the following month.

In 2007, Smyth was elected to Dumfries and Galloway Council, representing the Nith Ward. He was re-elected to this position in 2012.^[5] In October 2013, a Labour/SNP coalition was formed on Dumfries and Galloway Council^[6] when Smyth was appointed Chair of the Planning, Housing and Environment Committee.

In 2016, Smyth was elected to the Scottish Parliament, as an additional member representing the South Scotland region.^[7] He served as Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity under Richard Leonard from 2017 to 2021.^[8]

Smyth nominated Anas Sarwar in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election.^[9] After the leadership election, Sarwar appointed Smyth as Scottish Labour Spokesperson for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs.^[10]

At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Smyth was supported as a Labour Co-operative candidate for the first time.^[11] He contested the constituency seat of Dumfriesshire, but was returned to the Scottish Parliament as a regional list member for South Scotland again.

Smyth backed the UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment, voting in the Scottish Parliament against calls to reverse the decision.^[12]

Personal life

Smyth is married to Victoria, an English teacher. Together they have two daughters, Hannah and Evie.^[2]^[13] He is partly of Northern Irish descent.^[2]