Cole-Hamilton pledges support for young carers

Alex Cole-Hamilton has pledged extra school support for young people who care for relatives to ensure they do not fall behind in their studies.

The Scottish Lib Dem leader said his party would introduce a "young carers lead" at every school in the country - an assigned member of staff who would provide practical support to help young carers balance their education with their caring responsibilities.

The policy is inspired by the party's UK leader, Ed Davey, who cared for his mother as a child when she was diagnosed with cancer.

Cole-Hamilton told the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference he would put young carers "at the centre" of the party's manifesto in the run up to the 2026 Holyrood election.

Under the scheme, an assigned person at every school would be placed in charge of working with young carers.

The BBC understands this would be scaled up if the lead had more carers in the school than they could manage.

Cole-Hamilton said they would be someone who "understands the challenges [carers] face, and can offer practical support to balance their education with caring for their loved one."

Davey has previously spoken about the difficulties he faced in caring for his mother, Nina, who died when he was 15 from bone cancer.

In his speech, Cole-Hamilton said: "It's exhausting, overwhelming. A huge struggle to balance school with your caring responsibilities.

"Every one of these young people does an incredible job, and they deserve to fulfil every inch of their potential.

"It's time to give carers the support they deserve. And that's why the Scottish Liberal Democrats will put carers like them at the very heart of our manifesto next year."

Cole-Hamilton told the conference in Inverness the party was "in the ascendancy" following the defection of former Conservative MSP Jamie Greene.

He said his was the only party to "unpick the damage" caused by the SNP government on health, and told members they could deliver much more with more MSPs in Holyrood.

The party currently has four MSPs, the second smallest portion behind Alba.

Earlier this week, Cole-Hamilton said winning the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seat from deputy first minister Kate Forbes was a realistic target.

Forbes' majority is about 16,000, but Cole-Hamilton claimed the SNP had "neglected" the Highlands and said his party was capable of putting forward a successful case.

He told the conference the party was also targeting the seats held by Maree Todd and Fergus Ewing, who said he would not stand for the SNP in the 2026.

Cole-Hamilton said: "We are coming. We can win those seats.

"And that would be the story of the night; the Scottish Liberal Democrats winning back the Highlands.

"Highland voices in our parliaments are always strongest when they are liberal voices."

Former Tory MSP Greene was welcomed into the Lib-Dems by Cole-Hamilton and Davey on Friday.

Greene left the Conservatives in a letter to leader Russell Findlay, claiming the party had become "Trump-esque" in order to appeal to more right-wing voters as a way of combatting the threat posed by Reform.

Cole-Hamilton said Greene had found "safe harbour" in the party, describing his defection as "one of the bravest and most principled acts" he had ever seen in Scottish politics.

He said others "were set to follow" over the increasing right-wing rhetoric spurred on by Reform leader Nigel Farage.

Liberal Democrats headed to Inverness railway station at the close of conference with a spring in their step.

The party thinks it's on the up after their general election success last year and want to re-take the Highlands in the Holyrood election next year - a part of Scotland which they see as their political beat.

That's all very well - but it's a conference that could have slipped past the public consciousness but for the defection of Jamie Greene from the Conservatives.

The entrance of the former Tory on to the conference stage added real, dramatic flair and the party had also managed to build up a sense of intrigue - with his smuggling in reminiscent of a Cold War thriller.

The revelation of Jamie Greene also perhaps added a sense of purpose to the party which could be argued had been missing in a post-Brexit torpor.

It was something their critics always picked up on - claiming this staunch pro-European party had lost its way.

However, the Liberal Democrats are now arguing for a new alliance with Europe and saying they are the ones to who can stem the rising tide of populism and be the true defenders of liberal democracy.

That was the theme Alex Cole-Hamilton picked up on his speech.

It was an address also designed to be deeply personal - an attempt to show that he is the man ready, willing and able to lead the party to success in spring next year in his first Holyrood campaign as the party boss.

He's confident - but this week's defection and even the wider, global feeling of political turmoil means no politician can ever be too confident.