MSP for Edinburgh North Western (Constituency)
Email: [email protected]
Website: edinburghlibdems.org
Bluesky: @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk
Facebook: Alex Cole-Hamilton'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.
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Edinburgh North Western (Constituency)
07 May 2026 to present
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Former MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency)
05 May 2016 to 08 Apr 2026
Substitute Member
Substitute Member
Deputy Convener
Deputy Convener
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 May 2021 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
20 August 2021 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
27 August 2021 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
27 August 2021 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
27 August 2021 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
05 February 2024 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
06 October 2021 to 10 February 2026
Substitute Member
06 May 2021 to 27 August 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 May 2016 to 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 September 2016 to 04 May 2021
Deputy Convener
08 November 2016 to 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
06 February 2019 to 04 May 2021
Member
08 June 2016 to 04 May 2021
Member
16 June 2016 to 29 September 2016
Deputy Convener
08 June 2016 to 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 02 June 2026.
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.
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.
On 9 August 2023, I was a guest of the RAF (25 Learmouth Terrace, Edinburgh, EH4 1NZ) at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality received was £475.
No registrable interests.
No registrable interests.
Until 29 August 2022, I sublet part of my own property in Edinburgh through online holiday 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 £10,001 and £15,000 per annum.
No registrable interests.
On 5 February 2022, I was a guest of Scottish Rugby to the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield. They provided hospitality and two match tickets to myself and my guest, followed by dinner afterwards. The SRU have stated that the estimated value was £1,000 per person. I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test.
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 £1,520.
I was formerly a Convener and Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights).
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: 29 October 2026
5. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "Thank you, Presiding Officer. I welcome this refreshing change to FMQs.Yesterday, the Scottish Liberal Democrats united the Opposition and defeated the Government on the principle of a learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence bill…
Chamber meeting date: 29 October 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "I do not disagree with anything that the minister is saying, but I am concerned about the pace at which the Government is dealing with the threat of nitazenes…
Chamber meeting date: 28 October 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "Will the minister give way?"
Chamber meeting date: 8 October 2026
5. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "First, I offer the solidarity of the Scottish Liberal Democrats to Scotland’s Jewish community and Jews around the world as we commemorate yesterday’s anniversary of the horrific atrocity of October 7 by Hamas, and rededicate ourselves to peace in the middle east and a two-state solution.I declare an interest, as my wife is a teacher. This week,…
Chamber meeting date: 8 October 2026
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?"
Read all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's contributions in the Debating Chamber
Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.
Motion ref. S7M-01766
Submitted by: Maree Todd, Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Supported by: Angela Constance, Alison Thewliss
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 29, 2026
Result 76 for, 24 against, 14 abstained, 0 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S7M-01766.1
Submitted by: Adam Harley, Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 29, 2026
Result 88 for, 24 against, 2 abstained, 0 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S7M-01766.3
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 29, 2026
Result 33 for, 67 against, 14 abstained, 0 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Motion ref. S7M-01766.5
Submitted by: Gillian Mackay, Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Supported by: Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 29, 2026
Result 76 for, 24 against, 14 abstained, 0 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S7M-01766.4
Submitted by: Thomas Kerr, Glasgow, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 29, 2026
Result 36 for, 18 against, 59 abstained, 0 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Find out what motions Alex Cole-Hamilton has submitted recently.
Motion ref. S7M-01578
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 North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on proposals for additional equality protections for (a) older people, (b) LGBTI people, and (c) care experienced people in the proposed Human Rights Bill."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address the gap between entitlement to independent advocacy under the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and the reported level of uptake, in light of findings from The Scottish Mental Health Law Review that only around 5% of those eligible access it."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the Human Rights Bill, including its scope and planned approach to incorporating the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), International…
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made to date in implementing the 21 recommendations on independent advocacy that it accepted from the Scottish Mental Health Law Review in 2023, and which recommendations have been fully implemented to date."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has undertaken with the UK Government regarding the Human Rights Bill, including around issues related to section 28(7) of the Scotland Act."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to providing additional equality protections for people in rural and island communities in the proposed Human Rights Bill."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 November 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government when it intends to lay commencement regulations to bring section 8 of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Act 2026 into force."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 October 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it used to inform its decision to introduce legislation allowing local authorities to apply council tax premiums to second homes, and what evidence it holds regarding the efficiency of such premiums in increasing the availability of housing for permanent occupation."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 30 October 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all NHS boards provide annual health checks for people with learning disabilities, and what data it collects regarding the uptake of such checks across NHS board areas."
Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 12 October 2026
Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 30 October 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the University of Edinburgh regarding its withdrawal from teaching programmes at the Edinburgh Dental Institute."
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's questions submitted in Parliament