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.
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 October 2021 - 10 February 2026
Substitute Member
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 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]
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]
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: 4 March 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "The cabinet secretary talks about increased teacher numbers, but does she realise that three quarters of newly qualified teachers are struggling to find permanent employment and are stuck on supply lists?"
Chamber meeting date: 3 March 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Addressing our conference on the 25th anniversary of devolution, the dear departed Jim Wallace said:“The Constitutional Convention, whose final report is peppered with references to the European Charter of Local Self Government, concluded that in any future review of local government, ‘the aim of the Parliament should be, firstly, to safeguard and…
Chamber meeting date: 3 March 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Addressing our conference on the 25th anniversary of devolution, the dear departed Jim Wallace said:“The Constitutional Convention, whose final report is peppered with references to the European Charter of Local Self Government, concluded that in any future review of local government, ‘the aim of the Parliament should be, firstly, to safeguard and…
Chamber meeting date: 3 March 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Addressing our conference on the 25th anniversary of devolution, the dear departed Jim Wallace said:“The Constitutional Convention, whose final report is peppered with references to the European Charter of Local Self Government, concluded that in any future review of local government, ‘the aim of the Parliament should be, firstly, to safeguard and…
Chamber meeting date: 26 February 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "::Over last year’s Easter recess, Paul Sweeney and I joined the Mighty Convoy charity in delivering seven ambulances overland to armed forces in Ukraine for immediate use on the front line…
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's contributions in the chamber
Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.
Motion ref. S6M-20944
Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 2, 2026
Supported by: Kate Forbes
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 5, 2026
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP not voted
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20957.2
Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Result 52 for, 66 against, 2 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Motion ref. S6M-20957
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, March 2, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Result 85 for, 33 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20957.3
Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Result 66 for, 53 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20956
Submitted by: Willie Rennie, North East Fife, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, March 2, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Result 59 for, 61 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
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: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 5 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are currently being taken to safeguard prosecutorial independence and prevent political interference in the legal process."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 4 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to follow the educational framework in Denmark with a focus on rolling back reliance on digital tools."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 March 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what procedures are in place to monitor the number of repeated cases of Property Factor Enforcement Orders (PFEO) against a factor, and what its position is on when a factor is deemed not fit and proper to continue as a registered factor under the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government regarding funding for long COVID services for 2025–26, (a) for what reason it was delayed, (b) when NHS boards were formally informed of the delay, (c) how much time they had to respond, (d) what impact the delay had on service delivery, staffing and patient care and (e) what urgent remedial action was taken to…
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 2 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that any underspend arising from delays in funding for long COVID services is ring-fenced for long COVID care rather than being returned to the Scottish Government or diverted to other areas in order to prevent disruption to patient care and the delivery of essential services, and what formal…
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated age is of each of the CalMac Clyde and Hebrides ferries in operation under Transport Scotland’s public contract; how many are operating beyond their originally planned service life, and what the scheduled commissioning date is for their replacements."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to help people over 75 who wish to install solar panels but who may be ineligible for energy saving grants due to their age."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of taxpayers projected to enter the higher rate income tax band between 2026 and 2030 due to threshold freezes, and what assessment it has undertaken of the potential impact of any such projected fiscal drag."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what specific actions it is currently taking to reverse the reported rise in violent crime, particularly in sex offences and domestic abuse."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the needs of children and young people with long-term conditions when developing the Long Term Conditions Framework; for what reason children and young people do not appear to be included despite contributions from children’s and young people’s organisations and what…
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's questions submitted in Parliament