PRATER RAINES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Childrens' Panel Member
- Spokesperson for Human Rights and Older People
Raised and educated in Edinburgh, Aisha was the first to attend University in her family and graduated from the University of West of Scotland in 1996.
She had a successful career in Finance and now runs her own business.
Aisha first joined the Scottish Liberal Democrats in 2013 and since then has become a passionate activist, campaigning in many elections across the UK as well as being a Parliamentary candidate.
Aisha has been a Childrens' Panel member and was an unpaid carer for her mother through a number of serious illnesses for many years. She has been active in a number of projects & campaigns supporting unpaid carers, welfare for the elderly, Human Rights, diversity and inequality.
A daughter of immigrant parents, she has a distinctive voice and set of life experiences that lend well to her brief.
Job Titles:
- MSP Is Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader and Health Spokesperson
- Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader and Spokesperson for Health
Alex Cole-Hamilton has been leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats since August 2021, and is the party's health spokesperson.
He was first elected at the 2016 Scottish Parliament Elections for the constituency of Edinburgh Western gaining the seat from the SNP.
Before politics Alex was the head of policy for the children's rights charity Aberlour.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Rural Affairs and Connectivity
Beatrice Wishart is a Scottish Liberal Democrats politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Shetland. She was elected at the 2019 Shetland by-election, after the sitting Liberal Democrat MSP Tavish Scott stepped down.
Born in Lerwick, in the 2017 Scottish local elections she stood as an independent candidate for Shetland Islands Council and was elected as one of four members for Lerwick South. She was appointed deputy convenor. In July 2019 she was selected as a candidate for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, having been associated with the party for the previous decade - running the offices of Alistair Carmichael and Tavish Scott.
Beatrice is the Scottish Liberal Democrat Rural Affairs & Connectivity Spokesperson.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Veterans and Social Justice
Bruce served as a Captain in the Royal Marines Commandos before becoming active in politics. Running in Edinburgh North and Leith for the 2019 General Election and Edinburgh Central during the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections, Bruce was able to increase the vote share each time.
Prior to joining the Armed Forces, Bruce completed an undergraduate degree in Economics and a MSc in Strategic Studies both at Aberdeen University. Now working in a tech 'scale-up' using cutting edge technology to counter Child Sexual Exploitation and Terrorism, he is passionate about how technology can be used as a force for good. Originally from Highland Perthshire, he now lives in Edinburgh with his his wife and three children. In his spare time Bruce enjoys the great outdoors whatever the weather.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Social Security
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Agriculture
Claire is both a dairy farmer's daughter and mother of a farmer from Perthshire. She has lived in Perthshire all of her life, bringing up her 3 children whilst continuing her business interests. Claire cares about the wider agricultural industry and a positive future. The industry has great opportunities as well as facing many challenges. Claire has a strong understanding of agriculture over many facets including tenant farming, young entrants, farm diversification, large to small scale farming.
Scottish Agriculture has a worldwide reputation built upon dedicated hard work, innovative approaches combined with a care of the countryside and environment. Claire is well placed to be our Scottish Agriculture Spokesperson.
In 2022 Claire was elected as a Councillor for Strathtay ward on Perth and Kinross council.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Young People
Jack was brought up in the Orkney Islands before studying History and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen. Jack first got actively involved in politics during the 2014 Scottish Referendum despite not being old enough to vote.
In 2015, Jack was elected to the Scottish Youth Parliament to represent Orkney and went on to also represent the Highlands and Islands within the UK Youth Parliament. During his four-year tenure, Jack was actively involved in the campaigns to raise age of criminal responsibility and for the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law, both of which were achieved.
He worked collaboratively with Scotland's third sector on the rights of children and young people, such as during the Brexit negotiations, where he gained national recognition and was awarded 'MSYP of the Year' in 2015 and 2019. Jack now works in Edinburgh and is actively involved in the Scottish Liberal Democrats locally and nationally. In his spare time, he is a keen runner and rower.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Transport
Jill grew up in Aberdeenshire and studied politics at Glasgow University before moving to London. She worked delivering projects and transformational change across public and private sectors before returning to Scotland and settling in Edinburgh.
Jill campaigns for active travel and has cycle toured extensively across Scotland mainland, out islands and mainland Europe. She recognises the need for public transport to connect people and towns and cities and will prioritise decarbonising public transport.
Jill has worked in a voluntary capacity for a number of charities including a local cycle outreach programme as well as with NGOs overseas. She also enjoys takes open water swimming, running, cycling and painting.
Job Titles:
- Special Adviser to the Former Deputy First Minister
John was brought up in Airdrie and attended St Andrews University, where he graduated in 1998 with a degree in economics. He then worked as an oil and gas analyst before training to be a journalist. After a decade writing on financial topics, John started his own media relations consultancy business. He writes regularly on Scottish politics and economics.
John was the Scottish Liberal Democrats' candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale in the 2017 and 2019 general elections. He lives in the Scottish Borders with his wife and two boys. In his spare time he likes to hit the trails of the Tweed Valley on his mountain bike, and is a qualified mountain bike leader.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Scottish Parliament for Orkney
- Spokesperson for Justice and the Climate Emergency
A Scottish Liberal Democrat, Liam has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Orkney since 2007 and was elected as one of two Deputy Presiding Officers at Holyrood in 2021.
Liam previously worked as a Special Adviser to the former Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace in the Lib Dem-Labour coalition government during the first two sessions of parliament. Since being elected in 2007, he has served on various Committees, including Finance; Rural Affairs & Environment; Education & Culture; and Justice. He is currently the Scottish Liberal Democrats spokesperson on Justice and the Climate Emergency.
Liam was born in Edinburgh and brought up on the island of Sanday in Orkney. He is a politics graduate of Edinburgh University, where he also captained the First XI football team. He is married with two sons and owner to springer spaniel, Gerry.
Liam has felt immensely proud to represent the islands he was brought up in and that have helped shape his views and deep commitment to liberalism. In return, he has always recognised the need to be approachable and accessible to all his constituents, providing a clear, consistent and compassionate voice for the islands in Holyrood.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Remote and Rural Communities
Molly is a Highlander born and bred. She was raised in Evanton, in Easter Ross and attended school locally, first at Dingwall Academy and then Plockton Music School. She's passionate about traditional music and at Plockton studied fiddle and piano, as well as Scots singing. Ensuring the long-term survival of Highland arts and culture is one of her top priorities.
She studied a history degree at Harvard University in the United States, where she was one of only four Scots across the entire university. After graduating she returned to Evanton where she lives today with rescue cat Mango. On a daily basis, she helps businesses around the world understand government laws and regulations in Scotland and the UK.
In 2022 Molly was elected as Councillor for Cromarty Firth on Highland Council.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Sport and Culture
Neil was born in Edinburgh and brought up in Dunblane. Sport has always been a part of his life, constantly being a very active rugby player - currently with Moray Rugby Club. He has also previously represented Scotland at Australian Rules Football in multiple European Cups. He has also worked in sports data analysis with Stenhousemuir FC and Kelty Hearts FC.
A graduate in Game Design from the University of Greenwich and Glasgow Caledonian University, it was during his time in Glasgow he served as chairperson of student sport at the university and also had a time as an elected Vice President. Whilst at GCU he was the visionary and co-founder of the GCU Wolves, a new university sporting identity that continues to go from strength-to-strength and led to record levels of funding, membership and sporting activity.
He lives with his partner Hannah in Elgin, Moray where they have 3 incredible rabbits. He is also a passionate video gamer, and currently works as a Game Designer. Neil is a very active campaigner in his local community and leads the Moray Liberal Democrats.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Housing and Homelessness
Paul lives in East Kilbride with his family and has been campaigning for new schools, new community centres and more affordable housing in South Lanarkshire. Paul was homeless at age 16 and was driven into politics by a desire to tackle the issues at the root of homeless and support some of the poorest communities in his area.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Local Government
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Mental Health
Sally Pattle runs the successful Far From The Madding Crowd Bookshop on Linlithgow HIgh Street. She grew up in the town and is lucky enough to live and work here today. Sally has been an active member of the High Street Traders, as well as a Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Councillor. She has been a member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats since 1997.
At the 2022 local elections Sally was elected as the first ever Liberal Democrat councillor for Linlithgow with 20% of the vote.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Net Zero
Sanne grew up in the Netherlands, where she enjoyed the freedoms that safe cycling infrastructure brings to children and young people. She moved to Scotland to study at the University of Edinburgh, and never left.
In her day job she works as a fundraiser for climate research and teaching at the University of Edinburgh, where she helped to set up an
Ocean Leadership programme. She is passionate about environmental issues and low-carbon travel, is an early adopter of the electric car and once traveled to Bordeaux and back in 30 charging stops.
Sanne lives in North Edinburgh with her husband and two young children. She is very active in her community and advocates for safer paths, better access to local green spaces and more protection for Wardie Bay.
Job Titles:
- Spokesperson for Education, Economy and Communities
Willie grew up in Strathmiglo, Fife and from an early age he learned the importance of public service. He lived above the shop at the centre of a vibrant village in Fife and enjoyed the best of village life, the harvest thanksgiving, flower show, highland games, Sunday school and a lot more - and it was there that his strong liberal values were formed.
After graduating, he moved to Cornwall to work for the Liberal Democrats and honed the campaigning skills that would serve him well later in life. He returned to Scotland in 1999 and worked for a small communications firm for five years before winning the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election in 2006 in a stunning upset on a 16% swing from the Labour party in what media reports described as a "bombshell result".
He represented Dunfermline until the 2010 general election, championing improvements to cancer services at local hospitals and changing the law to protect female learner drivers from sex offenders. He was widely recognised as a hard-working MP, he stood up for local workers and helped protect jobs at Longannet power station and Rosyth shipyard.
In 2011, he was selected by party members to top the Regional List for Mid-Scotland and Fife at the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections. After his election to the Scottish Parliament in 2011, hebecame leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.