Skip to main content
Loading…
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
Image description

Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Edinburgh North Western (Constituency)


Alex Cole-Hamilton is the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats

About Alex Cole-Hamilton

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @agcolehamilton

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 not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Alex Cole-Hamilton is not a member of any cross-party groups

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

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

08 June 2016 to 04 May 2021

Health and Sport Committee

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.

Law Officers

Chamber meeting date: 17 June 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "Before I come to the appointments before the Parliament today, I, too, on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, pay tribute to Dorothy Bain KC—the second woman to hold the post of Lord Advocate in our country…

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

Chamber meeting date: 17 June 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "The minister will forgive me, because Liberal Democrats are not represented on the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, so we are unclear as to the process that has been followed on this occasion…

Teacher Shortages

Chamber meeting date: 11 June 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "On behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I echo the remarks about the Scotland world cup side and wish Steve Clarke and his squad all the best in the Americas…

Public Trust in Scottish Politics

Chamber meeting date: 10 June 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "Will he give way?"

Active Travel (Funding)

Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh North Western) (LD): "I hope that the cabinet secretary will agree that one of the safest ways to get students from Kirkliston in my constituency to their catchment high school in South Queensferry is via the council-funded coach service that has been operating well there for several years. A decision by the City of Edinburgh Council to remove that service for up to 200…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Suspension of Standing Orders

Motion ref. S7M-00397

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Result 108 for, 10 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Appointment of Law Officers

Motion ref. S7M-00380

Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Result 102 for, 16 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Affordable Bus Fares

Motion ref. S7M-00367.4

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Result 10 for, 107 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Affordable Bus Fares

Motion ref. S7M-00367.1

Submitted by: Graham Simpson, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK . Date lodged: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Result 23 for, 78 against, 15 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Affordable Bus Fares

Motion ref. S7M-00367

Submitted by: Stephen Flynn, Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 15, 2026

Supported by: Tom Arthur
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Result 93 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

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: S7F-00020

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

Date lodged: 16 June 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2026

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Question reference: S7W-00890

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

Date lodged: 9 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding support available to people who experience two consecutive miscarriages, (a) what support is currently available, (b) how NHS boards are expected to implement it, (c) what monitoring is undertaken to assess compliance with national guidance, and (d) what assessment has been carried out regarding the…

Question reference: S7W-00710

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

Date lodged: 2 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, following the withdrawal of hydrocortisone sodium phosphate 100mg/1ml solution, to ensure that people with adrenal insufficiency have access to safe, rapid-use emergency hydrocortisone options, including alternative liquid products, the ACT-O-VIAL system and future prefilled or autoinjector…

Question reference: S7W-00739

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

Date lodged: 3 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, following its withdrawal from the Home Office and National Crime Agency Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) Programme, how will it coordinate and gather intelligence with the rest of UK to tackle the increasing availability of synthetic opioids, which can be significantly more powerful than heroin."

Question reference: S7W-00740

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

Date lodged: 3 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the number of deaths involving synthetic opioids in Scotland reaching the highest level on record last year, whether any specific ministerial meetings have been held to discuss the threat posed by these substances and their increasing availability in Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-00738

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

Date lodged: 3 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the National Crime Agency's determination that there are currently no up-to-date national estimates of drug consumption in Scotland, and for what reason it has withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme, which is intended to provide such information."

Question reference: S7W-00736

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

Date lodged: 3 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has withdrawn from the Home Office and National Crime Agency Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme and, if so, for what reason."

Question reference: S7W-00737

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

Date lodged: 3 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any information, including expert advice or relevant data, that informed its decision to withdraw from the Home Office and National Crime Agency Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme."

Question reference: S7W-00741

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

Date lodged: 2 June 2026

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the number of deaths from synthetic opioids recorded in Scotland reaching the highest level on record in 2025, what specific action it will take to combat the increasing availability of synthetic opioids in Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-01043

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

Date lodged: 15 June 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 13 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils have been excluded from school for possession of a knife or offensive weapon in each of the last five years."