Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency) 2016 - present day
Email: [email protected]
Website: edinburghlibdems.org
X (previously known as Twitter): @agcolehamilton
Facebook: Alex's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5821
Text relay calls welcome.
151 St John's Road
Corstorphine
Edinburgh
EH12 7SD
Phone: 0131 334 1814
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Substitute Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Co-Convener
Member
Deputy Convener
Member
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
06 February 2019 - 04 May 2021
Member
29 September 2016 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Convener
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
16 June 2016 - 29 September 2016
Deputy Convener
08 June 2016 - 16 June 2016
Member
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Alex Cole-Hamilton. The date of their initial statement was 03 June 2021.
No registrable interests
On 12 September 2023 I attended Hampden Park Stadium for the Scotland vs England friendly match as a guest of Channel 4 Television Corporation (a broadcasting company of 124 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2TX). The ticket and associated hospitality amounted to a total of £478. [Registered 4 October 2023]
On 9 August 2023, I was a guest of the RAF (25 Learmonth Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 1NZ) at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality received was £475. [Registered 28 September 2023]
On 26 August 2022, my wife and I were guests of the RAF at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Limited, 1-3 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QB). The estimated value of the hospitality received was £773. [Registered 20 September 2022]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
Until 29 August 2022, I sublet part of my own property in Edinburgh through online holiday property website Airbnb. This yielded a gross annual income of between £5,001 and £10,000. Between 29 August 2022 and 4 May 2023, I used this part of my property to accommodate a person under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, for which I received £350 a month as a “thank you” payment. Since the departure of my Ukrainian guest on 4 May 2023, I have relisted this part of my property on Airbnb and it will yield a gross annual income of between £5,0001 and £10,000 per annum. [Amended interest 22 September 2022, Amended interest 11 May 2023]
No registrable interests
I was formerly a Convener and Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights).
On 5 February 2022, I was a guest of Scottish Rugby to the Calcutta cup at Murrayfield, they provided hospitality and 2 match tickets to myself and my guest, followed by dinner afterwards. SRU have stated that the estimated value was £1,000 per person. I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test. [Registered 22 February 2022]
On 22 August 2024 a family member and I were guests of the Royal Navy for dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia and then transported by coach to the Royal Military Tattoo. The combined value of the hospitality was £1520. [Registered 23 September 2024]
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Presiding Officer, on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I thank you for your service to the Parliament as an MSP and, in particular, for your commitment to the integrity and values of this chamber. We wish you well…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I welcome the minister to his new role. Improving neurodevelopmental care pathways is such a vital issue for the Scottish Liberal Democrats that we used our only debating day this year to bring a debate on it to the Parliament…
Chamber meeting date: 19 June 2025
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Yesterday, my colleague Willie Rennie told the chamber that public service reform should be boring. So far, the statement is doing a good job of keeping the promise of that directive…
Chamber meeting date: 19 June 2025
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Liberal Democrats are very supportive of the work that the Government is outlining today. The cabinet secretary mentioned the strategy that is to be forthcoming…
Chamber meeting date: 17 June 2025
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Strategies and recovery plans such as these come and go, but the health and social care sector is still on its knees. Nowhere is that crisis more acute than in our remote, rural and island communities…
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's contributions in the chamber
Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.
Submitted by: Natalie Don-Innes, Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025
Result 87 for, 0 against, 28 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 23, 2025
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Kate Forbes
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025
Result 88 for, 1 against, 27 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Kaukab Stewart, Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 23, 2025
Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025
Result 86 for, 0 against, 28 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 26, 2025
Result 80 for, 0 against, 34 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Result 82 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Find out what motions Alex Cole-Hamilton has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 25 June 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an immediate strategic audit of any potential implications for (a) public bodies, (b) infrastructure and (c) energy systems in Scotland of (i) Chinese investment in offshore wind and (b) the use of Hikvision cameras by public sector bodies."
Answered by Angus Robertson on 23 July 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government when (a) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and (b) its officials last met the (i) Royal College of Ophthalmologists and (ii) College of Optometrists."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with delivering a replacement Edinburgh Eye Pavilion, and by what date the replacement will be opened."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has met NHS boards regarding reported long waits for cataract surgery."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to enhance and refresh Scotland's Artificial Intelligence Strategy since its last update in 2022."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of cataract surgeries was delivered within the Treatment Time Guarantee in each of the last five years."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been made about long waits for cataract surgery."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how long patients should expect to wait for cataract surgery."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many ophthalmology trainees are currently in the NHS Scotland system, and how this compares with 2015."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 July 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients have lost their sight while waiting for cataract surgery in each year since 2019."
Answer expected on 19 August 2025
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's questions submitted in Parliament