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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 a member of 1 committee

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 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: 2 December 2025

Commonwealth Games (Glasgow 2026)

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "During London 2012, I took Humza Yousaf out on a detached youth work shift in Govan. We entered Elder park to find 50 of the most excluded and marginalised young people in Glasgow playing an impromptu game of volleyball…

Chamber meeting date: 2 December 2025

Violence against Women and Girls

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I am very glad to be opening for the Liberal Democrats in this important debate. Before I go any further, I thank Maggie Chapman for her typically excellent contribution…

Chamber meeting date: 25 November 2025

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Liberal Democrats will support the bill tonight, but we share the considerable concerns of stakeholders in the chamber and beyond it about part 2 and the Government’s failure to make the case for what seems to be a dilution of our commitment to incorporating the UNCRC."

Chamber meeting date: 20 November 2025

Covid-19 Inquiry Modules 2, 2A, 2B, 2C Report

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "In the pages of the report, we learn that our entire pandemic response was dictated by those in a small clique at the heart of the Scottish National Party Government, none of whom are in the chamber this afternoon…

Chamber meeting date: 18 November 2025

University of Edinburgh (Redundancies)

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "The minister will recall that I invited Sir Peter Mathieson here to meet a group of Edinburgh MSPs in the early summer…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-19970.2

Uniting Local and National Efforts Across Sectors to End Violence Against Women and Girls

Submitted by: Tess White, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 1, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Result 31 for, 71 against, 21 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 78 Amendment 2

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 27, 2025

Result 24 for, 86 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 78 Amendment 1

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 27, 2025

Result 47 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-19948

Non-Domestic Rates (Liability for Unoccupied Properties) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Supported by: Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 27, 2025

Result 84 for, 24 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 78 Amendment 22

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 27, 2025

Result 25 for, 84 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP not voted

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-42013

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 1 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many bed days have been lost in each year since 2020 due to patients being unable to be discharged while waiting for a new care package after their existing package was cancelled."

Question reference: S6W-42009

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 1 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the automatic cancellation of care packages after short hospital admissions is consistent with best practice; whether this is the current practice, and, if so, whether it plans to end this practice."

Question reference: S6W-41999

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 1 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether data on the average time a patient has spent on a trolley in emergency departments is published routinely by NHS boards, and if this is not the case, whether it will commit to doing so."

Question reference: S6W-42011

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 1 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the highest number of times is that an individual adult social care service user has had their care package cancelled and subsequently reassigned in a single year, since 2020."

Question reference: S6W-41997

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 1 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how long on average patients have spent on a trolley in emergency departments in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board."

Question reference: S6W-42007

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 1 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients who were not referred for care by the NHS 24 111 service subsequently required emergency treatment in each of the last five years."

Question reference: S6F-04495

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 1 December 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Question reference: S6W-42003

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 19 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of delayed NHS 24 callbacks on patient outcomes."

Question reference: S6W-42004

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 19 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS 24 111 telephone calls resulted in patients being referred to (a) A&E, (b) a GP and (c) other urgent care pathways in each of the last five years."

Question reference: S6W-42014

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 19 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what specific measures are in place to ensure continuity of care for social care service users whose care package is cancelled during hospital admissions, and how these measures are monitored."

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