Lib Dems set to take ‘big step forward’ in Scotland, Cole-Hamilton predicts

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has predicted his party is poised to take a “big step forward” in the Holyrood election.

Mr Cole-Hamilton was cheered by supporters as he arrived at the Edinburgh count at the Royal Highland Centre on Friday accompanied by wife Gill and daughter Darcy.

He predicted a win for the party in Edinburgh Northern – an achievement he said would be “astonishing” given the Lib Dems trailed the SNP by around 20,000 votes in 2021 in the old Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency.

Earlier, Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur became the first MSP to be returned to Holyrood – winning a record share of the vote in the process.

His 70% of the vote represented the biggest share in the Scottish Parliament’s history.

However, Mr Cole-Hamilton acknowledged there was disappointment for the party in Shetland, where it lost its long-held seat to the SNP.

But he insisted the Lib Dems are still set for a good election result overall in Scotland.

“It’s still really early and, of course, nobody’s even really looked at the regional list ballots, but it’s clear we’re winning in parts of the country we’ve never won before, and also very hopeful about regional gains as well,” he said.

“It’s a very mixed bag across the country. Obviously, some really odd results happening, but for the Lib Dems, no question, it’s a good day.”

He added: “We’re encouraged by a lot of the data we’re seeing. I mean it’s going to be a big step forward for the Lib Dems.”

Mr Cole-Hamilton also reiterated that he would not countenance being involved in any coalition arrangement with the SNP.

He said if John Swinney is returned as Scotland’s First Minister, his party will engage with the SNP government from the opposition benches on an “issue-by-issue” basis to seek concessions on Lib Dem priority areas.

“I’ve been clear from the start, and I stand by that, that there will be no coalition with the SNP,” he told reporters.

“I think for all the questions that Scotland currently faces, the answer to none of them is a third decade of SNP administration, and so we’re happy to rule that out.”

On the prospect of Mr Swinney returning as First Minister, Mr Cole-Hamilton added: “If he gets to Bute House, then we will be prepared to be grown up and work on an issue-by-issue, budget-by-budget basis.”