LONG READ: Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton sits down with the Scot
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SCOTTISH Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has been quizzed about Moray's biggest issues during an Elgin visit.
The Edinburgh West MSP said his party would push for a local consultant-led maternity service at Dr Gray's and for the A96 to be fully dualled.
He also said he "shared the anger" at some Conservative-Lib Dem coalition policies, which included the 2012 closure of RAF Kinloss, and argued the party was "under new management".
The Elgin visit on Saturday, November 12 was the first stop in the 150 Rising campaign, a push for the Scottish Lib Dems to win 150 council seats at the 2027 Council elections up from the 87 at May's local election.
Mr Cole-Hamilton was campaigning in the Elgin North ward with Moray Liberal Democrat convener and 2022 local election candidate Neil Alexander.
Asked about the experiences of Moray women who have endured nightmare journeys to Aberdeen to give birth, Mr Cole-Hamilton said the Lib Dems supported action on improving maternity services at Dr Gray's.
He said: "We absolutely, absolutely need localised maternity provision.
"There can't be a postcode lottery where you have to run the gauntlet, especially in the winter, over icy roads to Raigmore or Aberdeen.
"I have a lot of solidarity with this issue because Caithness is a Liberal Democrat constituency at Westminster and I've been working very closely with Caithness MP Jamie Stone for a long time on the problems around maternity services there.
"It's about asset stripping from our local communities by a big clunking SNP and Green bureaucracy, in Edinburgh, that is running a national health service but doesn't think beyond the Central Belt and doesn't see value in investing in rural provision.
"I want to see world class maternity services here in Elgin and in Wick as well."
The Scottish Lib Dem leader also called the A96 a lifeline route and said there was "no question" over the party's commitment to dualling it, as a planned update on the road improvements has been delayed into 2023.
He said: "Firstly, the Lib Dems support the dualling of the A96, no question.
"It is risking lives, particularly in a maternity context, and it's costing lives in terms of the safety crisis on the road and on the A9 too.
"The SNP is in hock to a junior partner in its coalition with the Greens that doesn't see beyond 'cars are bad'.
"Don't get me wrong – as Lib Dem leader, one of the things I've wanted to fight for most is active travel and getting people out of cars and greening our transport infrastructure.
"But these are lifeline routes and we can't mess around with this.
"We are living a 21st century existence with 20th century road infrastructure."
The closure of RAF Kinloss in 2012 had a significant impact on the local area, despite 39 Engineer Regiment taking over the site.
The decision was taken during the Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition government.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said he shared the anger of critics of the coalition government, but denied that austerity policies impacted maternity services in Moray.
He said: "I understand the anger because I felt it myself.
"I wasn't in politics at the time. I was a youth worker working in social work and with looked after young people and I saw the impact of the austerity.
"I understand why we did the coalition and I've got respect for a lot of the people involved in it.
"But had I been in the room, I would have been pushing for different decisions to be made.
"This was 12 years ago, though, and the party is under new management.
"There is no chance of a coalition with the Conservative Party either in Westminster or in Holyrood.
"It's a stretch, though, to say that austerity policies led to the asset stripping in maternity services because health is a devolved matter and those decisions were taken up here.
"That's not a direct impact."
The Liberal Democrats lack a history of success in Moray, with the party last winning a council seat in 2003.
In the Buckie ward, which was uncontested at this year's election, Lib Dem Chris Price took a seat at the council, but resigned and sparked a by-election.
The party's candidate in the by-election, Les Tarr, received only 67 first preference votes and came second-last.
Mr Cole-Hamilton said the path to success in Moray would involve moving past national politics and focussing on local issues and passionate candidates.
He said: "What I want the Lib Dems to do, under my leadership, is to offer something transcendent that speaks to people in their communities irrespective of where they stand on the Constitution.
"People know we are an internationalist party, but at the same time we're a party of local public service.
"We believe that a thousand seemingly tiny acts of public service can move a mountain of public opinion.
"There are no 'no-go' areas for the Lib Dems now and it's about offering people a new kind of social contract.
"When you back the Liberal Democrats, you will get a return on that investment for you and those around you, you will get somebody you will hear from and see on your doorstep.
"I think, because we don't have an extended or established tradition in Moray, that this is exactly the sort of place we should be working on and doing well in and that's why I'm here."
He also praised the success of Lib Dem candidates in May's local election and said this represented a "massive revival" across Scotland.
"We had a massive revival in the spring.
"We got more new councillors than any other opposition party.
"The promise of our future lies in local government as well as national politics.
"We have an organic uplift in Lib Dem support and it shows in Moray because Neil and the team around Neil are exactly what I'm trying to encourage.
"New, dynamic young candidates who are generating activity themselves – self-starters.
"They just need a bit of encouragement, they don't need any training or guidance because they're obviously smashing it already.
"That is why I wanted to come here first and I will be back very soon."
Mr Cole Hamilton said he was well-received on New Elgin's doorsteps.
He said: "My goodness, the response on the doors this morning was phenomenal.
"I think Neil has been buttering these guys up.
"They were really pleased to see us and very open to it.
"I want us to be ready for success and that's why I want to see people like Neil on Moray Council."
While in Elgin, the Scottish Lib Dem leader had kind words to say about the people of Elgin.
He also praised Batchen Street Coffee's lunchtime fare and admitted taking a selfie with the Dandy Lion.
He said: "I met a lot of really great people.
"One thing will I say is that every time I've been to Moray, and I used to come here with work and I've been up campaigning here before as well, the people are absolutely lovely.
"Irrespective if they are never going to vote Liberal Democrat, they are utterly charming and very decent. So I will be back.
"One of my highlights today was the breakfast naan bread at Batchen Street Coffee, where we went for lunch.
"And the Dandy Lion, I got my selfie with the Dandy lion."
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