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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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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 not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Alex is a member of 10 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 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 9 previous roles

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

06 October 2021 - 10 February 2026

Education Children and Young People Committee

Substitute Member

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 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]

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.

War in Ukraine (Fourth Anniversary)

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…

War in Ukraine(Fourth Anniversary)

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…

War in Ukraine(Fourth Anniversary)

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…

Motion of Condolence

Chamber meeting date: 25 February 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Occasions such as this remind us of the common humanity that we all share and the fundamental values that drive us in public service…

Motion of Condolence

Chamber meeting date: 25 February 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "::Occasions such as this remind us of the common humanity that we all share and the fundamental values that drive us in public service…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2026

Motion ref. S6M-20733

Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 26, 2026

Result 87 for, 0 against, 25 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20898.1

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Result 51 for, 66 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20898

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Result 92 for, 23 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Budget (Scotland) (No. 5) Bill

Motion ref. S6M-20860

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Result 66 for, 29 against, 24 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 55 Amendment 67A

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Result 25 for, 82 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

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 reference: S6W-44013

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."

Question reference: S6W-43795

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…

Question reference: S6W-43796

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…

Question reference: S6W-43988

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."

Question reference: S6W-43971

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."

Question reference: S6W-43987

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."

Question reference: S6W-43985

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 measures are currently being taken to safeguard prosecutorial independence and prevent political interference in the legal process."

Question reference: S6W-43986

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."

Question reference: S6W-43794

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…

Question reference: S6W-43793

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, regarding the publication of the Long Term Conditions Framework, for what reason it was halted less than 24 hours before its planned release on 18 December 2025; what specific stakeholder feedback informed this decision; whether a final draft existed at that point; whether that draft will be published, and whether…