Alex Cole-Hamilton#Personal life

Cole-Hamilton was born in Hertfordshire, England, the son of inorganic chemist Dr David John Cole-Hamilton, FRSE, FRSC, a lecturer at the University of Liverpool and speech therapist and marine archaeological academic Elizabeth Ann, daughter of RCNVR officer and government employee Bruce Lloyd Brown (1914-2002), of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, grandson of Alexander Brown, co-founder of Christie, Brown and Company, the largest Canadian manufacturer of biscuits.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th ed., ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, vol. 1, p. 1329{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/timescolonist/name/bruce-brown-obituary?pid=157464877|title=Bruce BROWN Obituary (2002) the Times Colonist|website=Legacy.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/david-john-colehamilton(a74c8fb5-cb32-43a3-b3b9-2d7d15083de1).html|title=David John Cole-Hamilton - University of St Andrews|website=risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk}} His great-grandfather Richard Cole-Hamilton was Archdeacon of Brecon from 1947 to 1955. The Cole-Hamiltons descend from Arthur Cole-Hamilton, younger son of the Irish politician John Cole, 1st Baron Mountflorence, of Florence Court, whose eldest son and heir, William, was created Earl of Enniskillen. Relatives include Anni Cole-Hamilton, founder of the private Moray Firth School, and Air Vice Marshal John Cole-Hamilton.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th ed., ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, vol. 1, pp. 1327-1329{{cite news|last=Kirkcaldy|first=Liam|date=5 July 2017|title=Getting to know you – Alex Cole-Hamilton|work=Holyrood Magazine|url=https://www.holyrood.com/articles/inside-politics/getting-know-you-alex-cole-hamilton|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223063309/https://www.holyrood.com/articles/inside-politics/getting-know-you-alex-cole-hamilton|archive-date=23 December 2017}} Cole-Hamilton's family moved from Lancashire to Scotland when he was 8 years old.

After attending Madras College, a state school in St Andrews,{{cite news|url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/politics/scottish-politics/2375398/alex-cole-hamilton-background-and-controversies-of-ex-madras-college-pupil-tipped-to-replace-willie-rennie/|title=Alex Cole-Hamilton: Background and controversies of ex-Madras College pupil tipped to replace Willie Rennie|first=Derek|last=Healey|date=13 July 2021|work=The Courier}} he graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a degree in politics and international relations. There, he was President of the Students' Representative Council from 1999 until 2000, where he was actively involved in negotiations with coalition ministers to abolish tuition fees in Scotland.

On leaving Aberdeen in 2000, he was appointed to the role of constituency organiser in the Liberal Democrat held constituency of Edinburgh West. He went on to work for the Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament until late 2003 at which point he was appointed as a policy and communications officer in the Children’s voluntary sector, where he worked for various organisations until his election in 2016, including YouthLink Scotland and Aberlour Child Care Trust.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-02 |title=Who is Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2xxpjkmg2do |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} During this time he was also a Director of and then latterly the Convener of "Together (Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights)".{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/alexcolehamilton|title=Alex Cole-Hamilton|website=Scottish Liberal Democrats}}

As part of 'Operation Clark County', Cole-Hamilton wrote to a voter in Clark County, Ohio in an attempt to influence the 2004 United States presidential election.{{cite news |last=Allen-Mills |first=Tony |date=24 October 2004 |title=America to Guardianistas: stay out of our election |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/america-to-guardianistas-stay-out-of-our-election-982crg2rjkf |work=The Times |location=London |publisher= |access-date=13 May 2025}}

Cole-Hamilton stood in several constituencies unsuccessfully as a Lib Dem candidate: at the 2003 Scottish Parliament election for the Kirkcaldy constituency;{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/2003-election-results|title=2003 Election Results|website=www.parliament.scot}} at the 2005 general election for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath; in 2007 for Stirling{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/2007-election-results|title=2007 Election Results|website=www.parliament.scot}} and in 2011 for Edinburgh Central.[https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/23328/central-msp-constituency-results-2011 Edinburgh Central Constituency results 2011] Elections Edinburgh Retrieved 27 May 2023

File:Alex Cole-Hamilton Bournemouth 2017.jpg conference in the Bournemouth International Centre in 2017.]]

Following the 2015 general election, Deputy Prime Minister and Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg quoted Cole-Hamilton when delivering his resignation speech. He referred to the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, saying "In 2011 after a night of disappointing election results for our party in Edinburgh, Alex Cole-Hamilton said this: if his defeat was part-payment for the ending of child detention, then he accepted it with all his heart. Those words revealed a selfless dignity which is very rare in politics, but common amongst Liberal Democrats."{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/nick-clegg-resigns-liberal-democrat-leader-s-resignation-speech-text-full-10235830.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514004912/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/nick-clegg-resigns-liberal-democrat-leader-s-resignation-speech-text-full-10235830.html |archive-date=2021-05-14 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=This is Nick Clegg's resignation speech in full|date=8 May 2015|website=The Independent}}

In May 2016, Cole-Hamilton was elected to the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh Western constituency.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/scotland-constituencies/S16000109|title=Edinburgh Western - Scottish Parliament constituency - Election 2016 - BBC News|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} After the election, he was made Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health. Cole-Hamilton's 2016 electoral expenses were investigated in June of the following year,{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/edinburgh-msp-alex-cole-hamilton-cleared-over-election-spending-563357|title=Edinburgh MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton cleared over election spending|date=10 October 2018|website=Edinburgh News}} according to the Edinburgh Evening News: "Mr Cole-Hamilton recorded the highest election costs of any Edinburgh candidate, spending £32,549 on his campaign while his rival for the Edinburgh Western seat, SNP candidate Tony Giugliano, spent £18,593." While Cole-Hamilton was cleared of any wrongdoing, the party was fined for failing to file an accurate spending return on its national spending return. He received the 'one to watch' award at the Herald – Scottish Politician of the Year Awards in August 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14828514.scottish-conservative-leader-ruth-davidson-wins-herald-scottish-politician-year-prize-reviving-tory-party/|title=Ruth Davidson named Herald Scottish Politician of the Year|last=Gordon|first=Tom|date=13 August 2016|website=The Herald}}

In 2018, Cole-Hamilton successfully persuaded the Scottish Government to reverse a planned funding cut to HIV Scotland that would have sunk that organisation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.alexcolehamilton.org.uk/cole_hamilton_appalling_betrayal_of_hiv_scotland|title=Cole-Hamilton: Appalling betrayal of HIV Scotland|first=Rebecca|last=Bell|website=Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP}} In 2020, during parliamentary deliberation of the first Coronavirus Act, Cole-Hamilton introduced amendments which forced a government U-turn on their proposals to abolish jury trials in Scotland for the duration of the emergency.{{cite news|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/coronavirus-crisis-must-not-see-suspension-trial-jury-alex-cole-hamilton-msp-2524238|title=Coronavirus crisis must not see suspension of trial by jury – Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP|last=Cole-Hamilton|first=Alex|date=31 March 2020|work=Edinburgh News}}

From 2019 until March 2021, he was a member of the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints against the former First Minister, Alex Salmond.{{Cite web|url=https://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/PreviousCommittees/117363.aspx|title=Membership|first=Tess|last=Schmigylski|date=5 June 2021|website=archive2021.parliament.scot}}

In February 2021, Cole-Hamilton was forced to apologise after having been seen swearing at Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd during an online committee hearing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56091794|title=Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton 'sorry' for swearing at female minister|work=BBC News|date=16 February 2021}} He wrote Todd a letter of apology, as well as publicly apologising in the Holyrood Chamber the week after, saying his language was “neither parliamentary nor respectful.”{{Cite news |date=2021-02-16 |title=Lib Dems MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton 'sorry' for swearing at female minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56091794 |access-date=2024-05-26 |language=en-GB}} The National reported in February 2024 that revisions to Cole-Hamilton’s Wikipedia article relating to the incident were ‘removed’ via a computer in the Scottish Parliament.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=Alex Cole-Hamilton's Wikipedia page 'edited to remove National reference' |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24122235.alex-cole-hamiltons-wikipedia-page-edited-removes-national-reference/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=The National |language=en}}

At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Cole-Hamilton received 25,578 votes, the highest number of votes ever cast for a single candidate in the Scottish Parliament election. He beat the runner-up, SNP candidate Sarah Masson, by 9,885 votes.{{Cite web|url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2021/05/spe21result-edinburgh-western-cole-hamilton-retains-his-seat/|title=#SPE21RESULT Edinburgh Western – Cole Hamilton retains his seat|first=Phyllis|last=Stephen|date=7 May 2021|website=The Edinburgh Reporter}}

{{See also|2021 Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election}}File:Alex Cole-Hamilton speaking in Scottish Parliament May 2024.png

On 27 July 2021, Cole-Hamilton announced his intention to stand in the upcoming Scottish Liberal Democrats leadership election to replace Willie Rennie.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57996717|title=Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton announces leadership bid|work=BBC News|date=28 July 2021}} He won the election unopposed on 20 August 2021 and took office the same day.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58269259|title=Alex Cole-Hamilton confirmed as new Lib Dem leader|work=BBC News |date=20 August 2021}} 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%.{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/scottish-local-elections-2022-revival-starts-today-pledge-lib-dems-with-20-new-seats-v7wzlsnnm | title=Scottish local elections 2022: Revival starts today, pledge Lib Dems with 20 new seats | last1=McLaughlin | first1=Mark }}

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,{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Tom |date=1 August 2022 |title=Russia bans series of Scottish politicians over their stance on war in Ukraine |work=The Herald |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/20593152.russia-bans-series-scottish-politicians-stance-war-ukraine/ |access-date=12 October 2022}} 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.{{cite news |last=Morrison |first=Hamish |date=15 May 2023 |title=Scotland 'can never and should never exist again', Scottish LibDems leader says |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/scottish-libdems-leader-says-scotland-170135518.html |access-date=16 May 2023 |website=Yahoo! News |language=en-GB}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Meighan |first=Craig |date=2023-12-05 |title=Lib Dem leader tries to take part in Holyrood vote from outside bar |url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/scottish-liberal-democrat-leader-alex-cole-hamilton-tries-to-take-part-in-holyrood-vote-from-outside-bar |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-04 |title=Alex Cole-Hamilton jeered after joining Holyrood debate 'from outside bar' |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23966014.scottish-libdem-leader-jeered-joining-debate-from-outside-bar/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=The National |language=en}}

He disagreed with First Minister John Swinney's attempts to exclude Reform UK from a across-party summit to counter the far-right, telling BBC Scotland that he had “deep concerns about anything which aims to stifle a democratically elected voice" preferring instead to defeat arguments he disagrees with in "open ground".{{Cite web |date=2025-04-04 |title=Alex Cole-Hamilton 'concerned' about excluding Reform from summit tackling far-right |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/25064488.alex-cole-hamilton-concerned-excluding-reform-summit/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=The National |language=en}}

In April 2025, he welcomed former Conservative MSP Jamie Greene into the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who cited the rise of “right-wing populism” in his former party as the reason for his defection. Cole-Hamilton described Greene an "effective communicator" who possessed "symmetry with our outlook and our values as a party".{{Cite web |date=2025-04-04 |title=Former Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Greene defects to Liberal Democrats |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yp8gee2peo.amp |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}} Cole-Hamilton would later write that Greene's defection to the Lib Dems "felt like a scene from a John le Carré spy novel."{{Cite web |date=2025-04-09 |title=The MSP who came in from the cold - Alex Cole-Hamilton |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/the-msp-who-came-in-from-the-cold-alex-cole-hamilton-5073407 |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=Edinburgh News |language=en}} Speaking on the BBC’s The Sunday Show, Cole-Hamilton asserted he was comfortable with center-right MSPs being a part of the Liberal Democrats.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-06 |title=Scottish LibDems 'comfortable' being home to centre-right politicians |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/25067708.scottish-libdems-comfortable-home-centre-right-politicians/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=The National |language=en}} He also predicted that more defections would follow, believing Greene's actions spoke to a greater 'realignment' in Scottish politics.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-05 |title=‘Others will follow’: Alex Cole-Hamilton predicts more defections to Lib Dems |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25067181.alex-cole-hamilton-defections-lib-dems-coming/ |access-date=2025-04-11 |website=The Herald |language=en}}

At the party's spring conference held in April 2025, Cole-Hamilton announced that they would prioritize The Highlands at the next Holyrood election, specifically targeting the seats of Kate Forbes and Maree Todd of the SNP. {{Cite web |date=2025-04-06 |title=The Highlands declared as the Scottish Liberal Democrats priority at Inverness conference |url=https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/the-highlands-declared-as-the-scottish-liberal-democrats-pri-378866/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=JohnOGroat Journal |language=en}}

{{See also|2024 United Kingdom general election in Scotland}}

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- Alex Cole-Hamilton{{cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/the-msp-who-came-in-from-the-cold-alex-cole-hamilton-5073407|title=The MSP who came in from the cold - Alex Cole-Hamilton

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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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLRoubtLJ6o |title=Selection of First Minister (Voting Results) - 7 May 2024 |date=2024-05-07 |last=The Scottish Parliament |access-date=2024-05-26 |via=YouTube}}

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”.{{Cite web |title=Scottish party leaders pitch for votes on first campaign weekend |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxeekvjk8yxo |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} Cole-Hamilton said the campaign would purposely avoid mentioning Scottish independence as an issue.{{Cite web |title='No one is talking about independence' - Alex Cole-Hamilton |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cerr03xgx1lo |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} He instead prioritized housing, education, and NHS dental care among other issues.{{Cite web |title=Lib Dems promise new housing for key workers |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c166l9yp907o |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} Cole-Hamilton represented the Lib Dems in a STV debate on 3 June, the first debate of the general election.{{Cite web |title=Party leaders clash over North Sea industry in election debate |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ddlkp9g9do |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} He participated in another debate on 11 June hosted by BBC Scotland.{{Cite web |title=BBC announces Network TV Election Debates and Question Time Leaders' Special |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/election-debates-network-tv-question-time-leaders-special/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Scottish Liberal Democrats launch general election manifesto |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cx77x0xpp4eo |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Scottish Lib Dems unveil election manifesto |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9772x7j06do |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} He also promised to cut energy bills and fix Scotland's "broken" relationship with Europe.{{Cite web |title=Who is Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2xxpjkmg2do |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

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".{{Cite web |title=Scottish Lib Dem leader placed 'low-level' bets on election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c800e2jzxgpo |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

The 2024 election produced historic results for the Lib Dems. The party won 72 seats, the most ever in its history.{{Cite web |title=Liberal Democrats win record number of seats as Sir Ed Davey hails 'exceptional' result |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-ed-davey-hails-exceptional-election-result-for-liberal-democrats-13168173 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Sky News |language=en}} The party won 6 seats in Scotland, gaining two in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire and Mid Dunbartonshire from the SNP.{{Cite news |last1=Carrell |first1=Severin |last2=O'Carroll |first2=Lisa |date=2024-07-05 |title=SNP leader says 'soul searching' needed after Labour landslide in Scotland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/snp-soul-searching-labour-scotland-john-swinney-scottish-independence |access-date=2024-07-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The former (previously known as Ross, Skye and Lochaber) was held by former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy from 2005 to 2015.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-06 |title=Lib Dems reclaim Charles Kennedy's old seat nine years after losing it to SNP |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24435531.lib-dems-take-charles-kennedys-seat-back-off-snp/ |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=The Herald |language=en}} Cole-Hamilton celebrated the results, declaring “There are far more liberals than nationalists on the benches of the House Commons today.”{{Cite web |last=Cole-Hamilton |first=Alex |date=July 5, 2024 |title=Here's why Liberal Democrats' barnstorming return as major political force really matters |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/heres-why-liberal-democrats-barnstorming-return-as-major-political-force-really-matters-4692597 |website=The Scotsman}}{{Cite web |last=Cole-Hamilton |first=Alex |date=July 10, 2024 |title=Carrying forward Charles Kennedy's legacy with pride - Alex Cole-Hamilton |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/carrying-forward-charles-kennedys-legacy-with-pride-alex-cole-hamilton-4696622 |website=Edinburgh News}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Hutcheon |first=Paul |last2=Updated |date=2024-10-02 |title=Scottish Lib Dem leader to campaign for Kamala Harris in pivotal US swing state |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/scottish-lib-dem-leader-campaign-33806273.amp |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Daily Record |language=en}} 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.”{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Keiran |date=2024-10-02 |title=Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton to campaign for Kamala Harris |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/scottish-liberal-democrat-leader-alex-cole-hamilton-to-campaign-on-behalf-of-kamala-harris-in-key-state |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}} Cole-Hamilton had previously campaigned for Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-30 |title=On the election campaign trail for Kamala - Alex Cole-Hamilton |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/on-the-election-campaign-trail-for-kamala-alex-cole-hamilton-4845059 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Edinburgh News |language=en}}

Cole-Hamilton is married to wife, Gillian, a teacher and Liberal Democrat candidate. They have three children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.holyrood.com/inside-politics/view,getting-to-know-you-alex-colehamilton_13451.htm|title=Getting to know you - Alex Cole-Hamilton|date=4 October 2019|website=Holyrood Website}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/scotland/my-daughter-almost-choked-to-death-on-a-coin-this-is-what-all-parents-should-know-267681|title=My daughter almost choked to death on a coin - this is how I saved her|last=Cole-Hamilton|first=Alex|date=10 March 2019|website=inews.co.uk}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12548902.John_Cole__Hamilton/|title=John Cole- Hamilton |work=The Herald |date=5 July 2017}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Keiran |date=2024-10-02 |title=Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton to campaign for Kamala Harris |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/scottish-liberal-democrat-leader-alex-cole-hamilton-to-campaign-on-behalf-of-kamala-harris-in-key-state |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}}

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”.{{Cite news |title=Watch: Online abuse led to therapy - Cole-Hamilton |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-69034762 |access-date=2024-05-26 |language=en-GB}}

His leisure interests include surfing.{{Cite book |title=Holyrood Scottish Political Guide 2023/24 |publisher=Holyrood |year=2023 |edition=2023/24 |location=Edinburgh}}

{{reflist}}

{{notelist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{SP-MSP}}
• [http://www.scotlibdems.org.uk/alexcolehamilton Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP] profile at the site of Scottish Liberal Democrats

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{{s-bef|before=Colin Keir}}

{{s-ttl | title=Member of the Scottish Parliament
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{{s-bef|before=Willie Rennie}}

{{s-ttl | title=Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats | years=2021–present}}

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{{Scottish political leaders}}

{{Leaders of political parties in the United Kingdom}}

{{Lothian MSPs}}

{{Scottish Liberal Democrats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole-Hamilton, Alex}}

Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Aberdeen

Category:Liberal Democrat MSPs

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2016–2021

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament 2021–2026

Category:Members of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh constituencies

Category:People educated at Madras College