Cole-Hamilton Defends Labour Support Plan for Holyrood Election
The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Alex Cole-Hamilton, has defended the possibility of supporting Scottish Labour to form a government at Holyrood, even if the Scottish National Party (SNP) secures the most Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) after the upcoming election.
Cole-Hamilton stated he would prefer to resign as party leader rather than allow John Swinney to return to Bute House as First Minister.
He also dismissed suggestions that a post-election arrangement with his "friend" Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, would lack democratic legitimacy.
Currently holding five MSPs, the Scottish Liberal Democrats are the fifth largest party in Holyrood.
Cole-Hamilton made these remarks during a series of Scotcast leader interviews ahead of the Holyrood election scheduled for 7 May.
"Even though we've got a proportional system, there's a chance that the SNP are elected to near enough a majority with only 34 percent of the vote. That's an abomination.
So I don't think there's any argument that would hold water that says one iteration or another iteration isn't democratic.
We're all going to be in minorities. It's just how it all shakes out after."
The Liberal Democrat leader emphasized that no formal alliance or pact exists between his party and Scottish Labour prior to the election.
However, he expressed a personal friendship with Anas Sarwar, highlighting the importance of cross-party relationships in a parliament of 129 MSPs.
"When there's 129 MSPs, if you can only be friends with the people in your group, it's going to be a lonely five years. Yeah, he's a friend," he said.
Addressing Abuse and Independence Debate
In a comprehensive interview, Cole-Hamilton also condemned "anti-English" abuse he has experienced and criticized prominent SNP politicians for not addressing such behavior.
He accused certain "outriders of the SNP and the wider nationalist movement" of betraying what he described as John Swinney's "reasonable proposition" regarding Scottish independence.
"I don't believe the vast majority of people who want an independent Scotland hate England, but some of them do.
And I don't think the leadership of the SNP have called that out."
The SNP has been contacted for comment on these statements.
Availability of Full Interview
The full interview with Alex Cole-Hamilton on Scotcast will be available as a podcast on and other podcast platforms from 17:00 on Tuesday, 10 March. It will also be accessible on BBC from 19:00 the same day.
