Lib Dems the most influential party at Holyrood, Cole-Hamilton says

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are the most influential group at Holyrood, leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has claimed.

Addressing the UK Lib Dem conference in Brighton, the MSP also described his party as the “antidote” to Reform.

He hailed its party’s “massive leap forward” in this year’s Holyrood election, returning their largest group in 20 years.

And he told the conference it was the Lib Dems who had stopped the SNP “in their tracks” and left plans for a second independence referendum “in tatters”.

John Swinney’s party had targeted a majority of 65 seats in May’s election, with the first minister arguing an SNP majority would be the best way to secure a mandate for a second referendum.

Although his party fell short, pro-independence parties maintain a majority after the Greens won a record 15 seats.

The Lib Dems returned 10 MSPs, an increase of six, including four constituencies – though they sit as the smallest group at Holyrood.