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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Edinburgh North Western (Constituency)


Alex Cole-Hamilton is leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats

About Alex Cole-Hamilton

Contact details

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.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

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

Committees

Alex Cole-Hamilton is a member of 2 committees

Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee

Substitute Member

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Substitute Member

Cross-party groups

Alex Cole-Hamilton is a member of 2 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Deputy Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Alex Cole-Hamilton does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Alex Cole-Hamilton has 2 party roles

Party Leader

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Spokesperson for Equalities

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Previous roles

Alex Cole-Hamilton has had the following roles in Parliament

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

06 May 2021 to 08 April 2026

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

20 August 2021 to 08 April 2026

Party Leader

Scottish Liberal Democrats

27 August 2021 to 08 April 2026

Party Spokesperson on the Constitution

Scottish Liberal Democrats

27 August 2021 to 08 April 2026

Party Spokesperson on External Affairs

Scottish Liberal Democrats

27 August 2021 to 08 April 2026

Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Liberal Democrats

05 February 2024 to 08 April 2026

Party Spokesperson on the Drugs Emergency

Scottish Liberal Democrats

06 October 2021 to 10 February 2026

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Substitute Member

06 May 2021 to 27 August 2021

Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 to 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

08 June 2016 to 04 May 2021

Health and Sport Committee

Member

29 September 2016 to 04 May 2021

Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Deputy Convener

08 November 2016 to 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

06 February 2019 to 04 May 2021

Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints

Member

16 June 2016 to 29 September 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Deputy Convener

08 June 2016 to 16 June 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Member

Register of interests

Alex Cole-Hamilton'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 02 June 2026.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests.

Gifts

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.

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 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.

Interest in shares

No registrable interests.

Voluntary

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).

Recent Activity

Official Report

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.

Drug Deaths (Nitazenes)

Chamber meeting date: 24 September 2026

5. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "I congratulate Michael Marra on his election to the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party and, given the subject matter of his first question today, I pay tribute to the tireless work that he has done on drug mortality…

Thirlwall Inquiry

Chamber meeting date: 17 September 2026

5. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "As other members have done, I, too, extend the heartfelt condolences of the Scottish Liberal Democrats to the Labour Party, the family of Cathie Craigie and everybody who loved her. She was a towering force in our politics and she will be much missed…

Ferry Disruption (Compensation for Businesses)

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "I extend the good wishes of the Scottish Liberal Democrats to Scotland’s Jewish communities on this most auspicious of holidays.When it comes to education, we cannot ignore international assessments…

Decision Time

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app would not connect. I would have voted yes."

Violence Against Women and Girls

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "In our final exchange before the summer recess, I asked the First Minister about protecting women and girls from male violence. In the following month, three Scottish women died at the hands of men and I went to the funeral of one of them…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.2

Submitted by: Q Manivannan, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 99 for, 16 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.4

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 40 for, 65 against, 7 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304

Submitted by: Màiri McAllan, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Supported by: Siobhian Brown, Martyn Day, Alyn Smith
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 89 for, 22 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.3

Submitted by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 46 for, 53 against, 15 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.1

Submitted by: David Kirkwood, South Scotland, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 15 for, 93 against, 7 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Motions

Motions made by Alex Cole-Hamilton in Parliament

Find out what motions Alex Cole-Hamilton has submitted recently.

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: S7W-03586

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 7 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, of all the applications for a crisis grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund that were declined in the last three years, what percentage were declined on the grounds that the applicant had previously received support and was assessed as not meeting the qualifying criteria for a further award."

Question reference: S7W-03582

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 7 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is still committed to ending the need for food banks, and, if so, what actions it plans to take to deliver this commitment."

Question reference: S7W-03587

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 7 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the historically high numbers of people presenting as homeless and being housed in temporary accommodation for extended periods of time, what action it plans to take to ensure that people experiencing homelessness can eat well and maintain good nutrition during periods spent in temporary accommodation and…

Question reference: S7W-03583

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 7 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent phase two delivery plan it has published with COSLA, Ending Destitution Together, whether it will provide further details regarding how it plans to address food insecurity and systematic reliance on food banks among people with no recourse to public funds."

Question reference: S7W-03585

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 7 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for a crisis grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund were declined in each of the last three years."

Question reference: S7W-03584

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 7 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have applied to the Scottish Welfare Fund for a crisis grant in each of the last three years."

Question reference: S7W-03277

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

Date lodged: 14 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 23 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government who regulates taxi fares, and what capacity ministers have to review or monitor price increases in this area."

Question reference: S7W-02677

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

Date lodged: 25 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to NHS boards to ensure that triaging accurately identifies and prioritises young people most in need of mental health support."

Question reference: S7W-03440

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

Date lodged: 18 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a costed delivery plan and timetable for extending funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to children under three."

Question reference: S7W-03308

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

Date lodged: 15 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports that NHS Lothian is unable to offer mammogram appointments in Edinburgh, and how it is working with NHS Lothian to ensure that local appointments for breast screening services can be offered to women in Edinburgh who require one."