Scottish Parliament elections 2026: Lib Dems say they can get record 3 MSPs elected in Edinburgh and Lothians
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton says he believes the party can win three MSPs in Edinburgh and the Lothians at May's Holyrood elections.
Mr Cole-Hamilton's own Edinburgh Western constituency has been redrawn and renamed Edinburgh North Western. He was re-elected in 2021 with the highest number of votes ever cast for a single candidate in a Scottish Parliament election and is confident of winning again on May 7.
Under the boundary changes, part of his current seat is moved into the new Edinburgh Northern constituency, which the Lib Dems see as a close race between themselves and the SNP.
The Lib Dem candidate there, Forth ward councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, is also their number one candidate on the list in the newly named and adjusted Edinburgh and Lothians East region.
And if she wins the constituency, Mr Cole-Hamilton believes the number two list candidate, Jane Alliston Pickard, can also be elected.
He said: "I'm exceedingly hopeful of winning the two constituencies and then very probably a list place as well." It would be the first time the Lib Dems had managed to get three MSPs elected from the area.
His comments came as the party published its full list of candidates for the region.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: "We know how the new seat of Edinburgh Northern voted at the council elections because it was counted by computer. That points to a small Lib Dem victory over the SNP and we are working hard to realise that at the Scottish Parliament level.
"A number of polls before Christmas showed we would win not only the Edinburgh Northern seat, but also an additional member on the list as well. That would be a historic result, bringing home three Lib Dem MSPs for Edinburgh and the Lothians."
Ms Alliston Pickard - who will also stand in the Edinburgh Southern seat, held by Labour's Daniel Johnson - is a mental health counsellor, who lives in central Edinburgh, and is a first-time candidate.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said: "It's her first time standing and it is a measure of her calibre that members in the Lothian region decided to rate her so highly. I encouraged her to stand.
"I'm delighted we have got two strong women leading our list of candidates and I have high hopes of seeing them both returned to parliament."
The Lib Dems’ full list of candidates for the Edinburgh and Lothians East region is:
1. Cllr Sanne Dijkstra-Downie (also Edinburgh Northern)
2. Jane Alliston Pickard (also Edinburgh Southern0
3. Charles Dundas (also Edinburgh Central)
4. Cllr Lewis Younie
5. Jenny Butler (also Midlothian North)
6. Liss Owen (also Edinburgh North Eastern & Leith)
7. Alan Grant (also Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh & Tranent)
Additionally, Andy Williamson will stand in Edinburgh South Western and Tim McKay will stand in East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs.