Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has declared his party is "winning again" as he officially launched the campaign for May's Holyrood election. Speaking at Newhaven harbour in Edinburgh, where he aims to win the Edinburgh Northern seat from the SNP, Cole-Hamilton outlined a positive vision centred on fairness and change.
Targeting Key Constituencies Across Scotland
The Liberal Democrats secured four seats in the previous Scottish Parliament election, and Cole-Hamilton emphasised his focus on increasing that number. The party has identified 10 target constituencies across Scotland where it believes it can gain ground, potentially taking seats from the SNP. Additionally, the Lib Dems are hopeful for returns on the regional ballot, part of Holyrood's proportional representation system.
A Vision for Change with Fairness at Its Core
In his campaign launch, Cole-Hamilton stated, "My ambition is to lay out a positive vision for change with fairness at its heart, where people can vote for a party that believes in better for Scotland." He highlighted that people across Scotland are "tired and frustrated" after the SNP's long tenure in power since 2007, arguing they deserve better governance.
The Lib Dem leader detailed specific policy promises, including ending the NHS crisis by fixing social care, improving Scottish education through measures like removing mobile phones from classrooms and adding pupil support assistants, and enhancing infrastructure by repairing roads and ferries. He also pledged to reduce household bills by promoting renewable energy for heating and insulation in homes.
Contrasting with Reform UK and SNP
Despite polling showing the SNP ahead and Reform UK potentially securing second place, Cole-Hamilton positioned the Liberal Democrats as a "counter for Reform." He criticised both Reform, led by Malcolm Offord in Scotland, and SNP leader John Swinney, stating they are "part of the problem" and do not offer the same fairness-focused vision.
Cole-Hamilton added, "We stand for a very different vision of change than that mean-spirited one offered by Lord Offord and Nigel Farage." He urged voters to support the Lib Dems on the regional ballot, emphasising that a vote for his party is a vote for change with fairness at its heart.
As the election approaches on May 7, Cole-Hamilton expressed optimism about the campaign, aiming to deliver tangible improvements for Scotland through a renewed focus on fairness and progressive policies.
