Cole-Hamilton Defends Record-Breaking Seat

0:00Alex Cole Hamilton from the Liberal Democrats is defending his Edinburgh Northwestern seat after smashing records in the 2021 Holyrood elections. He pulled in 25,578 votes, the highest ever for any candidate in Scottish Parliament history, beating the S&P by nearly 10,000 while Tories and Labor scraped under 3,000 each. The constituency got a makeover with new boundaries, now called Edinburgh Northwestern, keeping the heart around Corstorfein, Kramer, Kirkkelston, and South Queens, Ferry. It ditched spots like Blackhall and Drylaw, but picked up Ratho, Ravelston, and Murray Field, tweaks that could pad the Lib Dem edge even more. Candidates are lining up strong. S&P's Lynn Jardine, an East Lothian council opposition leader, says they're closing the gap with a positive vision on child poverty and fuel payments. Tory Rachel Cairns, a 31-year-old union fan from across the UK, pushes tax cuts for low earners and a pothole fund.

1:01Labor's earshot Ahmad wants more local police control, while workers' parties David Henry and Reform UK's Davey Thompson round out the field. On the doors, cost of living, crumbling roads, and lagging infrastructure from new housing like Camo and Queen's Ferry dominate Chats. Cole Hamilton calls out SNP failures in health, schools, and services after two decades in power, but he ain't sleeping on it. Voters here from farms to the 4th bridge will decide if that record holds or flips the script come election day. This has been Edinburgh News Today, powered by AI.