AS many National readers point out when we run stories on the Liberal Democrats, it seems to have been a while since they were either Liberal or Democratic.
It is also not really news that the Unionist parties have been happy to work together over the years, whether it was Willie Rennie meeting with Anas Sarwar or the Tories and Labour standing side by side under the Better Together banner.
Generally, they try not to compliment each other too much in public so as to not raise suspicion. But Alex Cole-Hamilton seems to have missed the memo.
READ MORE: Alex Cole-Hamilton 'certainly' supports crackdown on AirBnBs - just not his
While criticising Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross’s approach to opposing the SNP government in The Spectator, the LibDem leadership hopeful heaped praise on the Moray MP’s predecessor.
“It’s difficult to see that, for all the questions Scotland’s opposition parties face, the answer to any of them lie with Douglas Ross,” he wrote. “He lacks the transcendent charisma, the unifying quality and the energy of Ruth Davidson.”
Is Cole-Hamilton aware that his so-called progressive party is supposed to be opposed to everything the Baroness and her Conservative pals represent? Perhaps he too is positioning himself for a spot in the Lords …
Keith Brown, the SNP’s depute leader, suggested that while many know of Cole-Hamilton’s “adoration” for the Tories, his latest statement might make LibDem members’ “stomachs lurch”.
“He literally begged for Tories in his constituency to vote for him, so this is no surprise,” another independence supporter pointed out.
Many in Holyrood will know of the adoration Alex has for the Tories, but what’s left of the Lib Dem’s in Scotland may feel their stomachs lurch at this: “the transcendent charisma, the unifying quality and the energy of Ruth Davidson.” Alex Cole Hamilton in the The Spectator.
— Keith Brown (@KeithBrownSNP) August 4, 2021
“He's only kept in place by their votes, same with Ian Murray in Edinburgh South,” added Steve Clarke.
Others were entertained by the headline of Cole-Hamilton’s Spectator piece, which read simply: “Has the Scottish Liberal Democrats’ time finally come?”
Broadcaster Billy Kay had the perfect response. “Eh, naw. In the words of the sage of Belfast, Van Morrison. ‘Rave on John Donne.’”
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