Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has indicated he would consider backing Anas Sarwar as first minister if it meant removing the SNP from power after the next Holyrood election. Speaking after a tennis match with UK party leader Sir Ed Davey, Cole-Hamilton said he would 'look at' any opportunity to 'get rid of the SNP', but stressed there were 'no deals or alliances' with Labour ahead of the vote.
A recent Survation poll projected the SNP winning 62 seats, Reform UK 19, Labour 18, the Conservatives 13, the Greens 10, and the Liberal Democrats 7. A majority requires 65 MSPs, making coalition or confidence-and-supply arrangements likely. Cole-Hamilton, whose party currently holds five seats, predicted the Lib Dems would become a 'big player' in the next parliament.
Cole-Hamilton reiterated his earlier statement that he would rather resign than see SNP leader John Swinney return as first minister. He said Scotland 'needs change' and that his party would pursue a vision of fixing the health service, lowering living costs, and improving education. Sir Ed Davey added that the Lib Dems had 'momentum' after their 2024 general election success, and contrasted their 'change with fairness' with the 'right-wing' change offered by Reform and the Conservatives.
Anas Sarwar has ruled out any pacts or coalitions, stating he is 'going flat out to win this election' and offering voters a clear choice between himself and Swinney. SNP MSP Angus Robertson accused the Lib Dems of potentially enabling a 'grubby deal' involving Reform UK, and urged voters to back an SNP majority to 'lock Farage out of power'.
