Edinburgh Western MSP takes over from long-term leader Willie Rennie who stepped down from the role last month after more than 10 years in the role.
Cole-Hamilton was the only MSP from the Lib Dems group at Holyrood to put his name forward for the post. Under party rules only members of the Scottish Parliament are allowed to enter the race to be leader.The Hertfordshire-born and Scottish educated MSP will now lead the three other Lib Dems, Willie Rennie, Liam McArthur and Beatrice Wishart, at Holyrood.
At the May election Cole-Hamilton 's party was reduced to just four seats in the Chamber after they lost a regional-list seat to the Greens in the North East region.
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