Alex Cole-Hamilton
Alex Cole-Hamilton | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2026 | |
| Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats | |
| Assumed office 20 August 2021 | |
| Deputy | Alistair Carmichael Wendy Chamberlain |
| UK party leader | Ed Davey |
| Preceded by | Willie Rennie |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh North Western Edinburgh Western (2016–2026) | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Colin Keir |
| Majority | 13,016 (32.4%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alexander Geoffrey Cole-Hamilton 22 July 1977 |
| Party | Liberal Democrats |
| Education | University of Aberdeen |
| Website | Official website |
Alexander Geoffrey Cole-Hamilton (born 22 July 1977) is a politician who has served as leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats since 2021. Cole-Hamilton has been the member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh North Western (previously Edinburgh Western) since 2016.
Born in England, Cole-Hamilton's family later moved to Scotland, where his family was politically active. After attending Madras College, Cole-Hamilton studied politics and international relations at the University of Aberdeen. Upon graduation, he worked primarily in the children's and social care sectors, and remained active within the Liberal Democrats. After several unsuccessful candidacies, Cole-Hamilton secured a seat for himself in the Scottish Parliament in the 2016 elections, representing Edinburgh Western as a Liberal Democrat. After the 2021 parliamentary elections produced the worst results in the party's history, Cole-Hamilton was unanimously elected to lead the Scottish Liberal Democrats in August 2021. He led the party through the 2022 local elections, and helped oversee the party's 2024 general election campaign in Scotland. In the 2026 Scottish parliamentary election, Cole-Hamilton led the party to gain six seats, earning a total of ten in Holyrood.
Cole-Hamilton describes himself as a liberal and progressive. He is opposed to Scotland holding another independence referendum. Cole-Hamilton is considered to be a close ally of Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats.