“DO the LibDems support the proposed clampdown on AirBnB type rentals in the capital?”, Alex Cole-Hamilton was asked on Twitter in 2017.
“Certainly”, the soon-to-be-coronated Scottish LibDem leader responded, “when it comes to the party flat variety”.
Why the caveat? Is it that Cole-Hamilton just hates seeing people have fun?
Perhaps, but it seems he couldn’t unanimously support any “clampdown” on AirBnB type rentals in Edinburgh without endangering one of his own income streams.
As such and like a true politician, he added that the “whole thing does need to be carefully scrutinised”.
Certainly when it comes to the party flat variety- think the whole thing does need to be carefully scrutinised
— Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP🔶 (@agcolehamilton) April 23, 2017
It must be hard surviving on the measly £64,470 annual salary of an MSP, even with the taxpayer footing more than £20,000’s worth of his expenses (in the year 2019-2020).
Perhaps the Scottish LibDem leadership position will come with a pay increase?
Either way, the Edinburgh Western MSP takes home between £5000 and £10,000 annually by renting out a jazzy shed in his back garden for £57 a night (including the £8 service fee).
This “newly built” offering is “utterly private”, according to its AirBnB listing.
However, the photos provided seem to show that you can see directly into the LibDem MSP’s house (and vice-versa) from inside, so quite how “utterly private” it is may be up for debate.
READ MORE: LibDem Alex Cole-Hamilton heaps praise on 'transcendent' Ruth Davidson
Cole-Hamilton’s AirBnB profile also says he only allows bookings when “I will be in the main house to attend to guests’ needs” - so bad news for anyone hoping to have a relaxing city break without having to meet him.
The listing also claims to sleep up to three people, provided one of them doesn’t mind being on an air bed on the floor. It also says there are "no parties or events" allowed.
However, the space has rave reviews dating back to 2016 (is five years ago “newly built”?) so he must be doing something right, which makes a bit of a change for a Scottish LibDem.
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