Charity worker thwarts Loughton poll bid

Published on Friday 16 July 2010 11:27

LIBERAL Democrats have chosen Alex Cole-Hamilton as their candidate for the target seat of Edinburgh Central at next year's Holyrood elections.

He beat former Big Brother winner John Loughton in an internal party contest for the nomination after deciding to quit as candidate for Edinburgh North & Leith following the Lib Dems' failure to win the equivalent Westminster seat at the general election in May.

Mr Cole-Hamilton, who is head of policy for a national children's charity, won 63 per cent of members' votes to Mr Loughton's 26 per cent and eight per cent for party worker Beverley Hope.

Lib Dems say if the 2007 results were repeated on the new boundaries, they would win Central by 800 votes.

Mr Cole-Hamilton said the party's involvement in coalition at the City Chambers and at Westminster would make it "a different election". Sitting MSP Sarah Boyack will be fighting to hold the seat for Labour