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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 11 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 Improving Scotland’s Health

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: 18 September 2025

Ferry Services (Compensation Scheme)

3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "The Scottish Government’s ferry fiasco is a national embarrassment. It has cost us a fortune, but no Scottish National Party minister has ever had the decency to resign…

Chamber meeting date: 4 September 2025

Drug-related Deaths

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I associate myself with Paul Sweeney’s remarks on the sad passing of Peter Krykant, who was a friend to many in the chamber…

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2025

Gaza

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Given the historical responsibility that we hold in Great Britain for the desperate situation that is unfolding in Palestine, both of our Governments have a duty and an obligation to act, or we should deserve to have the images of the children of Gaza haunt us for 100 years. The people of Gaza and of Israel are now governed by regimes that operate…

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2025

Palestine

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Does the cabinet secretary recognise, as I do, that the evidence for the continuing outrages perpetrated by the Netanyahu Government have prompted former Likud Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to say that Netanyahu’s proposals for a “humanitarian city” in Gaza are tantamount to “ethnic cleansing”?"

Chamber meeting date: 2 September 2025

Scottish Government Priorities

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I am sure that everyone across the chamber supports our hard-working NHS staff…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-18883

Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 15, 2025

Supported by: Siobhian Brown
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Result 71 for, 46 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 26 Amendment 148

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Result 12 for, 101 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 26 Amendment 55

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Result 63 for, 48 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 26 Amendment 109

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Result 45 for, 66 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 26 Amendment 46

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Result 28 for, 86 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

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 ref. S6W-40574

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38373 by Gillian Martin on 17 June 2025, whether it will provide an update on its plans to review and revise the guidance regarding the exceptional circumstances in which it is permissible for storm overflows to spill."

Answer expected on 1 October 2025

Question ref. S6W-40533

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 16 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to provide fire evacuation equipment to fire services to accommodate all levels of accessibility need."

Answer expected on 30 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40481

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support VisitScotland provided to the DP World Tour Nexo Championship, which was held at the Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeenshire, in August 2025, including any deliverables agreed."

Answer expected on 29 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40482

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government on what date VisitScotland agreed to support the DP World Tour Nexo Championship, which was held at the Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeenshire, in August 2025."

Answer expected on 29 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40485

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether, in the First Minister's recent meetings with the President of the United States, the issue of the Open Championship golf tournament being held possibly at the Trump Turnberry course in Ayrshie was discussed."

Answer expected on 29 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40484

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government which UK departments it has held discussions with regarding the possibility of the Open Championship being held at Trump Turnberry, in Ayrshire, and what future meetings are planned."

Answer expected on 29 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40483

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government which individuals and companies were the end recipients of the VisitScotland support for the DP World Tour Nexo Championship, which was held at the Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeenshire, in August 2025."

Answer expected on 29 September 2025

Question ref. S6F-04295

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 September 2025

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40034

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase preventative care in the NHS."

Answered by Neil Gray on 10 September 2025

Question ref. S6W-40449

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 9 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water will publish an update to its 2024 sewage overflow data to include data from event duration monitors that have been installed as part of the Improving Urban Waters Routemap and that were not included in the original publication in March 2025."

Answer expected on 24 September 2025

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