Alex Cole-Hamilton

thumb|Alex Cole-Hamilton. Alexander Geoffrey Cole-Hamilton (born 22 July 1977) is a politician who has served as leader of the w:Scottish Liberal Democrats since 2021. Cole-Hamilton has been the member of the w:Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Edinburgh North Western (previously Edinburgh Western) since 2016. Quotes I was sent to parliament by my constituents in record-breaking numbers to oppose a second independence referendum, come what may. I have my instructions, I will honour that mandate. Why would I support the means of enabling a policy I’m implacably opposed to? Speaking during an interview with The Times on August 14, 2021. Alex Cole-Hamilton: ‘I take a lot of fire and I give it back’ Unfortunately, the Tories and the SNP are still locked in this toxic death spiral over another referendum. It’s time to move on – the people want us to move on. Speaking during an April 2022 interview. Alex Cole-Hamilton: ‘I regret cancel culture very much – it’s not a liberal place to be’ Getting stuff done for our local communities is our bread and butter. It's what we're all about. September 21, 2025 Cole-Hamilton urges disillusioned Tories to join Lib Dems I’m also concerned about how this scheme could be misused to control the population. Once this infrastructure is in place and we are all dutifully supplying our data, what’s to stop this government, or a future government expanding the scope of the scheme and demanding more? For initially pedestrian reasons it could widen the scheme to include religion, gender identity, political views, sexual preference or congenital illness. History is littered with gloomy examples of regimes using the collection of such information to persecutory or even lethal ends. Authoritarianism is built on data collected about citizens often initially for perfectly innocent reasons. Opinion piece from October 1, 2025 Why we will always oppose ID cards Scotland’s got so much going for it, but right now it just feels like nothing’s working. People are tired and frustrated, they’ve been let down by the other parties, and we think they deserve better than that. But it needs to be a vision with change, with fairness in its heart. April 3, 2026 'We've got the beating of the SNP at this election', says Cole-Hamilton It’s very important to say that Donald Trump is not America and America is not Donald Trump. The old and special relationship we have with our friends across the Atlantic is big enough and old enough to withstand the measured criticisms of concerned friends and politicians this side of the Atlantic. This relationship will outlive his Presidency, we just need to survive it. Speaking during a debate for the 2026 Scottish parliamentary election, April 14, 2026 Scotland's major party leaders debate ahead of May elections External links