Alex Cole-Hamilton

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Cole-Hamilton speaking in the Scottish Parliament in May 2024. Alex Cole-Hamilton speaking in Scottish Parliament May 2024.png
Cole-Hamilton speaking in the Scottish Parliament in May 2024.

On 27 July 2021, Cole-Hamilton announced his intention to stand in the upcoming Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election to replace Willie Rennie. [22] He won the election unopposed on 20 August 2021 and took office the same day. [23] He led the party into the 2022 local elections, which saw an increase of 20 councillors to 87, and increased vote share to 8.7%. [24]

He has prioritised campaigning on children's mental health, long covid, tackling the climate crisis and supporting Ukrainian refugees. He was sanctioned by the Kremlin in August 2022 following his public criticism of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, [25] and his efforts to highlight Russian influence in Scotland.

Cole-Hamilton spoke at an Oxford Union debate on Scottish independence on 24 February 2023. during which he compared the Yes movement with the push for Brexit. This was criticised by Corri Wilson, deputy general secretary of the independence supporting Alba Party. [26]

In December 2023, Cole-Hamilton was criticised after he attempted to take part in a parliamentary debate through video link from outside the parliamentary bar. [27] [28]

2024 general election

Upon Humza Yousaf’s resignation as First Minister in May 2024, Cole-Hamilton submitted his name for nomination as Scotland's next FM. He received four votes at the First Minister selection, losing to John Swinney who succeeded Yousaf as the leader of the SNP. [29]

After Rishi Sunak called a general election on 22 May, Cole-Hamilton began campaigning for the Lib Dems, looking to “tear down the acid yellow wall of the SNP”. [30] Cole-Hamilton said the campaign would purposely avoid mentioning Scottish independence as an issue. [31] He instead prioritized housing, education, and NHS dental care among other issues. [32] Cole-Hamilton represented the Lib Dems in a STV debate on 3 June, the first debate of the general election. [33] He participated in another debate on 11 June hosted by BBC Scotland. [34] On 17 June, Cole-Hamilton unveiled the Scottish Lib Dems manifesto, which called for more funding for local agriculture, a new minimum wage for care workers, and more support to mental health services, among other issues. [35] [36] He also promised to cut energy bills and fix Scotland's "broken" relationship with Europe. [37]

On 26 June, he said he had placed bets on elections in Scottish constituencies, describing them as "low-level bets" to "show confidence in my friends". [38]

The 2024 election produced historic results for the Lib Dems. The party won 72 seats, the most ever in its history. [39] The party won 6 seats in Scotland, gaining two in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire and Mid Dunbartonshire from the SNP. [40] The former (previously known as Ross, Skye and Lochaber) was held by former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy from 2005 to 2015. [41] Cole-Hamilton celebrated the results, declaring “There are far more liberals than nationalists on the benches of the House Commons today.” [42] [43]

Foreign politics

In October 2024, Cole-Hamilton announced he would be campaigning in the American swing state of Pennsylvania to knock on doors for the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party nominee in the 2024 election. [44] He said he and three other Liberal Democrats booked flights as soon as Joe Biden suspended his campaign in July, and described the election as “one of the most important elections in global history.” [45]

Personal life

Cole-Hamilton is married to wife, Gillian, a teacher and Liberal Democrat candidate. They have three children. [46] In 2019, he resuscitated his daughter after she swallowed a 50c Euro coin. He used the publicity around this to raise awareness of the importance of infant first aid and organised several first aid training events in his constituency. [47]

His relative John Cole-Hamilton was Provost of Kilwinning from 1940 until 1947, Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the County of Ayr in 1951, and Chairman of the Central Ayrshire Conservative Party when that constituency was formed, and Richard Cole-Hamilton, former chief executive of the Clydesdale Bank. [48]

He also has a sister, with whom he stayed with in New York while campaigning for Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania during the 2024 American presidential election campaign. [49]

In May 2024, Cole-Hamilton announced he had been undergoing therapy for online abuse for the past two years. He said the Lib Dems were paying for the therapy, and that he made the announcement to “encourage others who were struggling to reach out and talk”. [50]

His leisure interests include surfing. [51]

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References

  1. ↑ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th ed., ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, vol. 1, p. 1329
  2. ↑ "Bruce BROWN Obituary (2002) the Times Colonist". Legacy.com .
  3. ↑ "David John Cole-Hamilton - University of St Andrews". risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk.
  4. ↑ Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th ed., ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, vol. 1, pp. 1327-1329
  5. ↑ Kirkcaldy, Liam (5 July 2017). "Getting to know you – Alex Cole-Hamilton". Holyrood Magazine . Archived from the original on 23 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Healey, Derek (13 July 2021). "Alex Cole-Hamilton: Background and controversies of ex-Madras College pupil tipped to replace Willie Rennie". The Courier.
  7. ↑ "Alex Cole-Hamilton". Scottish Liberal Democrats.
  8. ↑ "2003 Election Results". www.parliament.scot.
  9. ↑ "2007 Election Results". www.parliament.scot.
  10. ↑ Edinburgh Central Constituency results 2011 Elections Edinburgh Retrieved 27 May 2023
  11. ↑ "This is Nick Clegg's resignation speech in full" . The Independent. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Edinburgh Western - Scottish Parliament constituency - Election 2016 - BBC News" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  13. ↑ "Edinburgh MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton cleared over election spending". Edinburgh News. 10 October 2018.
  14. ↑ Gordon, Tom (13 August 2016). "Ruth Davidson named Herald Scottish Politician of the Year". The Herald .
  15. ↑ Bell, Rebecca. "Cole-Hamilton: Appalling betrayal of HIV Scotland". Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP.
  16. ↑ Cole-Hamilton, Alex (31 March 2020). "Coronavirus crisis must not see suspension of trial by jury – Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP". Edinburgh News.
  17. ↑ Schmigylski, Tess (5 June 2021). "Membership". archive2021.parliament.scot.
  18. ↑ "Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton 'sorry' for swearing at female minister". BBC News. 16 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton 'sorry' for swearing at female minister". 16 February 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Alex Cole-Hamilton's Wikipedia page 'edited to remove National reference'". The National. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  21. ↑ Stephen, Phyllis (7 May 2021). "#SPE21RESULT Edinburgh Western – Cole Hamilton retains his seat". The Edinburgh Reporter.
  22. ↑ "Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton announces leadership bid". BBC News. 28 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "Alex Cole-Hamilton confirmed as new Lib Dem leader". BBC News. 20 August 2021.
  24. ↑ McLaughlin, Mark. "Scottish local elections 2022: Revival starts today, pledge Lib Dems with 20 new seats".
  25. ↑ Gordon, Tom (1 August 2022). "Russia bans series of Scottish politicians over their stance on war in Ukraine". The Herald. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  26. ↑ Morrison, Hamish (15 May 2023). "Scotland 'can never and should never exist again', Scottish LibDems leader says". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  27. ↑ Meighan, Craig (5 December 2023). "Lib Dem leader tries to take part in Holyrood vote from outside bar". STV News. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  28. ↑ "Alex Cole-Hamilton jeered after joining Holyrood debate 'from outside bar'". The National. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  29. ↑ The Scottish Parliament (7 May 2024). Selection of First Minister (Voting Results) - 7 May 2024 . Retrieved 26 May 2024– via YouTube.
  30. ↑ "Scottish party leaders pitch for votes on first campaign weekend". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  31. ↑ "'No one is talking about independence' - Alex Cole-Hamilton". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  32. ↑ "Lib Dems promise new housing for key workers". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  33. ↑ "Party leaders clash over North Sea industry in election debate". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  34. ↑ "BBC announces Network TV Election Debates and Question Time Leaders' Special". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  35. ↑ "Scottish Liberal Democrats launch general election manifesto". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  36. ↑ "Scottish Lib Dems unveil election manifesto". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  37. ↑ "Who is Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton?". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  38. ↑ "Scottish Lib Dem leader placed 'low-level' bets on election". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  39. ↑ "Liberal Democrats win record number of seats as Sir Ed Davey hails 'exceptional' result". Sky News. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  40. ↑ Carrell, Severin; O'Carroll, Lisa (5 July 2024). "SNP leader says 'soul searching' needed after Labour landslide in Scotland". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  41. ↑ "Lib Dems reclaim Charles Kennedy's old seat nine years after losing it to SNP". The Herald. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  42. ↑ Cole-Hamilton, Alex (5 July 2024). "Here's why Liberal Democrats' barnstorming return as major political force really matters". The Scotsman.
  43. ↑ Cole-Hamilton, Alex (10 July 2024). "Carrying forward Charles Kennedy's legacy with pride - Alex Cole-Hamilton". Edinburgh News.
  44. ↑ Hutcheon, by Paul; Updated (2 October 2024). "Scottish Lib Dem leader to campaign for Kamala Harris in pivotal US swing state". Daily Record. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  45. ↑ Fleming, Keiran (2 October 2024). "Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton to campaign for Kamala Harris". STV News. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  46. ↑ "Getting to know you - Alex Cole-Hamilton". Holyrood Website. 4 October 2019.
  47. ↑ Cole-Hamilton, Alex (10 March 2019). "My daughter almost choked to death on a coin - this is how I saved her". inews.co.uk.
  48. ↑ "John Cole- Hamilton". The Herald . 5 July 2017.
  49. ↑ Fleming, Keiran (2 October 2024). "Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton to campaign for Kamala Harris". STV News. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  50. ↑ "Watch: Online abuse led to therapy - Cole-Hamilton" . Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  51. ↑ Holyrood Scottish Political Guide 2023/24 (2023/24 ed.). Edinburgh: Holyrood. 2023.
  1. ↑ Alistair Carmichael acted from 20 July to 20 August 2021
Alex Cole-Hamilton
MSP
Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP.jpg
Official portrait, 2016
Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 August 2021
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Edinburgh Western
2016–present		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
2021–present		Incumbent
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