Rachael Hamilton

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.

Not to be confused with Rachel Hamilton.

Rachael Hamilton
MSP
Hamilton in 2016
Chairwoman of the Scottish Conservatives
In office
14 February 2020 – 20 May 2022
Serving with Rab Forman
LeaderJackson Carlaw
Douglas Ross
Preceded byThe Lord Keen of Elie
Succeeded byCraig Hoy
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
Assumed office
10 June 2017
Preceded byJohn Lamont
Majority6,863 (19.0%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for South Scotland
(1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office
6 May 2016 – 3 May 2017
Succeeded byMichelle Ballantyne[lower-alpha 1]
Scottish Conservative portfolios
2020–2021Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People
2021–presentShadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands
Personal details
Born
Rachael Georgina Hamilton

1970 (age 52–53)
Brecon, Wales, UK
Political partyScottish Conservatives
Alma materHarper Adams University
OccupationHotel owner
Websitewww.rachaelhamilton.co.uk

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 owns the Buccleuch Arms Hotel in St Boswells.[2]

Background

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

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]

From 2016 to 2020, Hamilton served as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Tourism on Scottish Conservative frontbench in the Scottish Parliament.[6] She sits on the public petitions Committee in the Scottish Parliament.[7][8]

In the February 2020 Scottish Conservatives leadership election, Hamilton served as co-chair of Jackson Carlaw's leadership campaign, alongside Liam Kerr.[9]

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.[10]

Notes
  1. 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
  1. "Rachael Hamilton wins Scottish Parliament by-election". BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  2. "Borders MSP Hamilton hits back at calls for her dismissal". Border Telegraph. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  3. "Scottish Parliament Election 2016". East Lothian Conservatives.
  4. "Election 2016: South Scotland. Scottish Parliament region". BBC News. 6 May 2016.
  5. "MSP Rachael Hamilton quits to fight Holyrood by-election". BBC News. BBC. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  6. "Scottish Conservative appointments for new parliamentary term". Scottish Conservative Party. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  7. "Memberhip". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  8. "Membership – European and External Relations Committee". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  9. 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.
  10. "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.
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