Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton is looking to replicate the attention-grabbing election tactics of UK leader Ed Davey, who made headlines with a series of bizarre stunts. From falling off a paddleboard to screaming on a rollercoaster, Davey’s antics helped his party secure over 70 seats.
Cole-Hamilton plans to make a splash of his own in the upcoming 2026 Holyrood election by taking to the surf at Aberdeen beach. “I’m better on a paddleboard than Ed Davey,” he jokes. “I love being in wetsuits. I love scuba diving. I love surfing.”
Reflecting on his university days at Aberdeen, he adds, “I used to watch the surfers from the beach, and I miss that. I’ve learned to surf since then. It’s always been a dream of mine to return to Aberdeen’s beautiful sandy beaches.”
The Scottish Lib Dems have reason to be optimistic. In the Highlands, MP Jamie Stone significantly increased his majority in Caithness, Sutherland, and Easter Ross. Despite a disappointing 2021 Holyrood election where the party fell to a record low of just four MSPs, Cole-Hamilton is hopeful for a turnaround in 2026.
“If Labour repeats their recent successes and becomes the biggest party in Holyrood, the Lib Dems could play a crucial role as kingmakers,” Cole-Hamilton suggests. When asked if there’s a particular cabinet position he’d aim for, he ambitiously responds, “First minister. We make the reality we find ourselves in.”
He acknowledges the party’s challenges, “We’re starting from a very low base. But polling shows if people believed we could win, we’d do much better. It would be a privilege to be considered for a position of power.”
Cole-Hamilton remains confident despite the party’s past setbacks, including the significant losses in the 2015 Westminster election. He reflects, “I never thought the party would die.”
As he prepares to hit the waves in Aberdeen, Cole-Hamilton is ready to ride the momentum into a hopeful future for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
