Skip to main content
Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Alex Cole-Hamilton

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @agcolehamilton

Facebook: Alex's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5821
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

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.

Committees

Alex is a member of 1 committee

Cross-party groups

Alex is a member of 11 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Chronic Pain

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Long Covid

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Alex does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Alex has 6 party roles

Party Leader

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on External Affairs

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Constitution

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Drugs Emergency

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Previous roles

Alex has had 8 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021

Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

06 February 2019 - 04 May 2021

Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints

Member

29 September 2016 - 04 May 2021

Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Deputy Convener

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Health and Sport Committee

Member

16 June 2016 - 29 September 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Deputy Convener

08 June 2016 - 16 June 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Member

Register of interests

Alex's register of interests

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.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

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]

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]

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

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]

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

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]

Recent Activity

What was said

What Alex Cole-Hamilton has said in Parliament

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: 4 September 2025

Drug-related Deaths

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I associate myself with Paul Sweeney’s remarks on the sad passing of Peter Krykant, who was a friend to many in the chamber…

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2025

Gaza

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Given the historical responsibility that we hold in Great Britain for the desperate situation that is unfolding in Palestine, both of our Governments have a duty and an obligation to act, or we should deserve to have the images of the children of Gaza haunt us for 100 years. The people of Gaza and of Israel are now governed by regimes that operate…

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2025

Palestine

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Does the cabinet secretary recognise, as I do, that the evidence for the continuing outrages perpetrated by the Netanyahu Government have prompted former Likud Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to say that Netanyahu’s proposals for a “humanitarian city” in Gaza are tantamount to “ethnic cleansing”?"

Chamber meeting date: 2 September 2025

Scottish Government Priorities

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I am sure that everyone across the chamber supports our hard-working NHS staff…

Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025

Cancer Treatment (Waiting Times)

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…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-18795

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Supported by: Richard Lochhead
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 60 for, 49 against, 7 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18795.1

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 23 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-18795.3

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 26 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-18780.3

Impact of Accommodating Asylum Seekers on Scottish Local Government

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Result 72 for, 45 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18780

Impact of Accommodating Asylum Seekers on Scottish Local Government

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 8, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Result 91 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Alex Cole-Hamilton has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6W-40449

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 9 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water will publish an update to its 2024 sewage overflow data to include data from event duration monitors that have been installed as part of the Improving Urban Waters Routemap and that were not included in the original publication in March 2025."

Answer expected on 24 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40411

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on discussions that it has had with NHS Highland since 30 July 2025 regarding the request from the Caithness Health Action Team for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness."

Answer expected on 23 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40410

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will reach a decision on the request by the Caithness Health Action Team for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness."

Answer expected on 23 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40029

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported shortage of care home places on delayed discharge from hospitals."

Answered by Neil Gray on 8 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40037

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many complaints have been made about care homes in each of the last 10 years."

Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40040

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether people face a so-called postcode lottery in accessing social care services."

Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40035

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered providing multi-year contracts to not-for-profit organisations providing care services."

Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40039

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to recruit and retain social care staff."

Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40143

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the eligibility criteria for a COVID-19 vaccine have reportedly changed, in light of reported concerns that older people who act as unpaid carers, who were previously eligible for a vaccine, will now have to pay up to £100 for one."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40071

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 4 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the application by Tesla Energy Ventures Limited for an electricity supply licence, what its position is regarding any impact on its energy policy and strategy in the event that the licence is granted by Ofgem."

Answer expected on 19 September 2025

Share this page