He studied anthropology and economic history at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an undergraduate Master of Arts (MA Hons) degree in 2009.

[7] He had previously denied involvement when asked and had urged other candidates to sign a clean campaign pledge.

[8] Paul Staines hired Cole initially as an intern for his right-wing website Guido Fawkes due to his involvement in EUSAless.

[11][12] Cole's stories include the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock's extramarital affair with his aide Gina Coladangelo and their breaking of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions in 2021 which won Scoop of the Year at the British Journalism Awards.

[13] In September 2022, it was announced that Cole and fellow journalist James Heale would be writing a book about the British Conservative Party politician Liz Truss who had recently become prime minister after winning the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election called Out of the Blue.