Local Liberal Democrats select Alex Cole-Hamilton to fight Scottish Parliament election

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 13th Jun 2008

Leith resident Alex Cole-Hamilton has been selected by the Liberal Democrats to fight Edinburgh North & Leith at the Scottish Parliament elections

Edinburgh North and Leith Liberal Democrats have selected charity worker, Alex Cole-Hamilton as their candidate for the next Scottish Parliamentary elections, due to be held in 2011.

Following a decisive ballot, Alex was selected at a meeting of the local party membership on Thursday evening. He will now work along side Westminster candidate Kevin Lang to unseat Labour in this highly marginal seat which the Party regards as its 2nd most winnable (currently unheld) seat in Scotland.

Following his selection Alex said: "I am immensely proud to have received the Lib Dem nomination for Edinburgh North and Leith at the next Scottish Parliamentary Elections. The fact that our party has chosen to select a Scottish Parliamentary candidate in this seat some three years before the next election is a measure of just how significant we regard the opportunity for victory here.

Everybody knows that in Edinburgh North and Leith, voters have a straight choice between Labour and the Lib Dems. The Tories are in meltdown locally and on their best ever night in May 2007 the SNP slipped to a dismal 3rd place.

"I now intend to work side by side with my colleague and good friend Kevin Lang to first ensure victory for him at Westminster whenever that election is called and then to push on to victory at Holyrood. Voters are sick and tired of the spin and gimmicks of a Labour Party that has run out of ideas and has taken voters for granted for far too long. As Edinburgh North and Leith is a two way marginal, local residents are beginning to pay particular attention to what the Lib Dems have to offer on reducing the cost of living, maximising opportunities for children and young people and tackling crime. It seems to be striking a chord."

Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Nicol Stephen MSP said of Alex's selection: "I am delighted to have Alex in place and campaigning in one of our key target seats for the next Scottish Parliamentary elections so early in the electoral cycle. Alex is a formidable activist who brings with him, a wealth of experience both in political campaigning and through his work in the voluntary sector, tackling some of Scotland's most pressing social issues. He has the energy and commitment to snatch the seat from Labour and will use the next 3 years to campaign tirelessly along side Kevin Lang for much needed change in Edinburgh North and Leith."

Alex Cole-Hamilton lives in Leith with his wife Gillian (who was the Lib Dem candidate in Edinburgh East and Musselburgh in 2007) and their baby son (Finlay). Alex works in a senior management role for a national children's charity.