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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Hamilton resigned her list seat in order to contest the 2017 Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire by-election on 8 June. She won the by-election with a majority of over 9,000.

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.

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.

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.