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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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Rachael Hamilton

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Constituency)

About Rachael Hamilton

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @Rachael2Win

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6970
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

7 Abbey Court
Kelso
TD5 7JA

Phone: 01573 224862
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Constituency)
08 Jun 2017 to present

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Former MSP for South Scotland (Region)
05 May 2016 to 02 May 2017

Committees

Rachael Hamilton is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Rachael Hamilton is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Rachael Hamilton does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Rachael Hamilton has 2 party roles

Deputy Party Leader

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Business & Tourism

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Previous roles

Rachael Hamilton has had the following roles in Parliament

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

28 September 2024 to 08 April 2026

Deputy Party Leader

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

06 November 2024 to 08 April 2026

Substitute Member

01 February 2023 to 10 October 2024

Member

21 May 2021 to 28 September 2024

Party Spokesperson on Islands

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

21 May 2021 to 28 September 2024

Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

25 May 2022 to 29 June 2023

Member

17 June 2021 to 01 February 2023

Member

08 September 2021 to 25 May 2022

Substitute Member

11 August 2020 to 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 to 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Older People

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

20 August 2020 to 04 May 2021

Member

25 February 2020 to 04 May 2021

Substitute Member

25 February 2020 to 20 August 2020

Member

28 June 2017 to 11 August 2020

Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 to 11 August 2020

Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 to 11 August 2020

Co-Chair

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

10 September 2019 to 25 February 2020

Member

28 June 2017 to 18 February 2020

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

17 May 2018 to 10 September 2019

Member

21 June 2017 to 17 May 2018

Member

26 May 2016 to 02 May 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

26 May 2016 to 02 May 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Business

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

29 September 2016 to 02 May 2017

Member

08 June 2016 to 17 November 2016

Member

08 June 2016 to 29 September 2016

Member

Register of interests

Rachael Hamilton's register of interests

MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What Rachael Hamilton has said in Parliament

These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Will the member accept an intervention?"

Energy Strategy

Chamber meeting date: 2 June 2026

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Over the weekend, the Scottish National Party’s new Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy said that the Scottish Government’s energy strategy may not be ready until the end of the year…

Summer of Sport

Chamber meeting date: 2 June 2026

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "The minister makes an important point about inclusion. In rural areas, kids at school cannot get the bus transport to get to the activities and events, and the pools and other assets…

Independence Referendum

Chamber meeting date: 26 May 2026

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Will the member give way?"

Public Confidence in Political Institutions

Chamber meeting date: 26 May 2026

1. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on public confidence in political institutions in Scotland following the guilty plea entered by former Scottish National Party chief executive Peter Murrell in recent court proceedings."

Votes

How Rachael Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Rachael Hamilton has voted recently.

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Motion reference: S7M-00390

Submitted by: Senga Beresford, South Scotland, Reform UK . Date lodged: Monday, June 22, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Result 4 for, 2 against, 0 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

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Motion reference: S7M-00096

Submitted by: Alison Thewliss, Glasgow Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Supported by: Clare Adamson, Jackie Baillie, Colin Beattie, Steven Bonnar, Miles Briggs, Holly Bruce, Ariane Burgess, Michelle Campbell, Bob Doris, Murdo Fraser, David Kirkwood, Kirsten Oswald, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance

Result 3 for, 2 against, 1 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

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Motion reference: S6M-13898

Submitted by: Fulton MacGregor, Coatbridge and Chryston, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Supported by: Karen Adam, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Stephanie Callaghan, Bob Doris, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Annabelle Ewing, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Ruth Maguire, Stuart McMillan, Ash Regan, Liz Smith, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney
Current status:

Result 2 for, 1 against, 1 abstained, 0 did not vote

MSP voted for

Scottish Rate Resolution

Motion reference: S6M-20844

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 19, 2026

Result 93 for, 29 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Business Programme

Motion reference: S6M-20826.1

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 51 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motions

Motions made by Rachael Hamilton in Parliament

Find out what motions Rachael Hamilton has submitted recently.

Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill

Motion reference: S7M-00036

James Hutton Tercentenary

Motion reference: S7M-00296

Growing Scotland’s Economy: Amendment 5

Motion reference: S7M-00290.5

Arthritis Awareness Month

Motion reference: S7M-00003

Questions

Questions Rachael Hamilton has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S7W-02508

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether its Chief Scientific Adviser for Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture has provided advice on the use of LiDAR technology to assess wildfire risk and, if so, whether it will publish any such advice."

Question reference: S7W-02507

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commission research comparing vegetation and fuel loads across Scotland during the drought and wildfires of 2026 with those recorded during the drought of 1976, including through the use of LiDAR data, satellite imagery and historic land-management records."

Question reference: S7W-02506

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to adopting approaches used in Wales to apply Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) mapping to wildfire prevention and planning, and whether it will consider developing a comprehensive LiDAR-based wildfire risk map for Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-02505

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 15 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what use it currently makes of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to map vegetation, assess fuel loads and identify areas at heightened risk of wildfire."

Question reference: S7W-02299

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 5 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 2 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to the comments reportedly made by the Scottish Retail Consortium and published in The Herald on 3 August 2026 that such a policy would not address the root cause of…

Question reference: S7W-01809

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its analysis is of the potential impact on product substitution and imports should the policy compel retailers to consider sourcing cheaper products from abroad."

Question reference: S7W-01810

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, whether it is engaging with representatives of the retail sector and food producers to address the root causes of higher food prices."

Question reference: S7W-01812

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what assessment has been carried out of the potential impact of this policy on convenience stores and newsagents."

Question reference: S7W-01811

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to reported concerns that the policy could encourage customers to travel further to purchase goods that would otherwise be bought in a convenience store closer to them and…

Question reference: S7W-01808

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 17 July 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 22 July 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what analysis it has conducted of the potential impact on customer demand and stocking of products in grocery stores that are located close to the border with England."