Rachael Hamilton
Rachael Hamilton | |
|---|---|
 Hamilton in 2019 | |
| Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party | |
| Assumed office 28 September 2024 | |
| Leader | Russell Findlay |
| Preceded by | Meghan Gallacher |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire | |
| Assumed office 10 June 2017 | |
| Preceded by | John Lamont |
| Majority | 6,863 (19.0%) |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for South Scotland (1 of 7 regional MSPs) | |
| In office 6 May 2016 – 2 May 2017 | |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Ballantyne[a] |
| Scottish Conservative Shadow portfolios | |
| Leader | Douglas Ross |
| 2021–2024 | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands |
| 2020–2021 | Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rachael Georgina Hamilton 1970 (age 53–54) Brecon, Wales, UK |
| Political party | Scottish Conservatives |
| Alma mater | Harper Adams University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | www |
Rachael Georgina Hamilton (born 1970) is a Scottish Conservative Party politician, who has served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire since 2017.
Hamilton has served as the Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism and for Social Security and Older People. She was previously a list MSP for the South Scotland region, elected in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election.[1] She was elected as constituency MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire at a 2017 by-election.
She is a director of the Buccleuch Arms Hotel in St Boswells.[2]
Background
[edit]Hamilton was born in Brecon, Wales, and grew up on the family farm in Herefordshire. She studied agriculture at Harper Adams University College in Shropshire and after graduating joined a graduate training programme to become an agronomist with Schering Agriculture.[3]
Politics
[edit]
In 2016 Hamilton stood for the Scottish Parliament as the Conservative candidate for the East Lothian constituency where she came third, then was elected from the South Scotland regional list.[4]
Hamilton resigned her list seat in order to contest the 2017 Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire by-election on 8 June.[5] She won the by-election with a majority of over 9,000.[1]
Under the leadership of Ruth Davidson, Rachael Hamilton was Shadow Cabinet Secretary Tourism and Small Business and was Deputy Chief Whip.
During Jackson Carlow’s leadership, Rachael Hamilton was Chairwoman of Scottish Conservative Party and served as Shadow Cabinet Secretary Rural Economy and Tourism.
In 2018, the Conservatives faced calls to sack Hamilton from the front-bench after a hotel she co-owns with her husband was fined £52,500 by the DWP for failing to comply with the law on workplace pensions.[6]
Under current Scottish Conservative Leader, Douglas Ross, Rachael Hamilton has served as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Equalities. She is currently part of the front bench team as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands.
During her time as an MSP, Rachael Hamilton has served on the following committees; Culture, Tourism, Europe, External Affairs 2016-2018 Delegated Powers and Law Reform 2016 Public Petitions 2018-2019 Rural Economy and Tourism 2020 Social Justice and Social Security 2021-2022 Equalities, Human Rights and Criminal Justice 2022-2023 Rural Affairs and Natural Environment 2021-2023 Rural Affairs and Islands 2023 to date
In the February 2020 Scottish Conservatives leadership election, Hamilton served as co-chair of Jackson Carlaw's leadership campaign, alongside Liam Kerr.[7]
At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, Hamilton was re-elected as the MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, returning with over 51% of the vote. On 13 May 2021, at the swearing in of the new session, Hamilton took the oath in the Welsh language.[8]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Normally, regional MSPs do not have individual predecessors and successors. However, Hamilton retired from her seat during a sitting parliament so was succeeded by Ballantyne.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Rachael Hamilton wins Scottish Parliament by-election". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Borders MSP Hamilton hits back at calls for her dismissal". Border Telegraph. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Parliament Election 2016". East Lothian Conservatives.
- ^ "Election 2016: South Scotland. Scottish Parliament region". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
- ^ "MSP Rachael Hamilton quits to fight Holyrood by-election". BBC News. BBC. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ "Davidson urged to sack law-breaking shadow minister hit with £50k fine". The Herald. 18 March 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Hamilton, Rachael [@Rachael2Win] (6 January 2020). "At the 2021 election, we need to take the fight to the SNP and hold their shambolic and failing government to account.
That's why I'm proud to co-chair @Jackson_Carlaw's campaign as the best person who can lead us forward and beat Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. #TeamJackson" (Tweet). Retrieved 11 May 2021 – via Twitter. - ^ "Politician becomes first person in Scottish Parliament to take oath in the Welsh language". ITV News. 13 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
External links
[edit]- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Rachael Hamilton
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