Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.
14 Palace Road
Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
KW15 1PA
Phone: 01856 876541
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Substitute Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Co-Convener
Member
Member
Member
Convener
Scottish Parliament
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 October 2021 - 01 February 2023
Substitute Member
18 November 2020 - 14 September 2021
Member
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
22 June 2021 - 26 August 2021
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021
Appointed Member
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
29 August 2017 - 04 May 2021
Member
25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016
Appointed Member
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Substitute Member
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Member
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Substitute Member
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Scottish Liberal Democrats
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Liam McArthur. The date of their initial statement was 20 May 2021.
Since April 2023 I have been officiating local football matches in Orkney for fixtures organised by the Orkney Amateur Football Association (of Kinnmohr, Holm, Orkney, Scotland, KW17 2SD). I referee between 2 and 3 matches per month in the period between April and August each year. I have also undertaken officiating at Orkney FC matches un the North Caledonian League and inter-country fixtures. I have received match fees of between £25 and £50 and total payments received are between £501 and £1,000. I have donated the majority of the fees to a local charity, Inclusive Orkney, and to other local causes. [Registered 21 May 2025]
I have been receiving the support of an additional staff member to support the development of my Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults. The post is funded by three permissible donors: Friends at the End (a Scottish registered charity working to promote end of life choices, of 4 Queen St, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE); Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT); Humanist Society Scotland (a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and campaigns for assisted dying, of Suite 25, 4 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT). From January 2022 to June 2022 the support was provided 4 days per week. Since June 2022 the additional support provided was one day per week. It is expected that support will continue at one day per week until June 2025. The total value of this support over this period (January 2022 – June 2025) will amount to £54,054 with individual donations as follows: Friends at the End - £18,018, Dignity in Dying - £18,018 Humanist Society Scotland - £18,018. [Registered 3 May 2022, Amended interest 14 October 2022, Amended interest 24 October 2022, Amended interest 26 September 2023, Amended interest 6 September 2024, Amended interest 14 January 2025]
From 27 to 28 October 2011 I participated in a trip to the Elgin-Franklin oil and gas installation to learn more about the industry and how it operates. Total E&P UK (an oil and gas exploration and production company of Crawpeel Road, Altens, Aberdeen, AB12 3FG) met the costs of this visit which were approximately £1,750. This included coach and helicopter transport, accommodation and safety clothing.
Since September 2021, I have received support in publishing materials relating to my proposed Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults, in the form of a website maintained by the permissible donor, Humanist Society Scotland (a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and campaigns for assisted dying, of Suite 25, 4 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT). Humanist Society Scotland have developed and continue to maintain this website, www.assisteddying.scot, as well as covering the cost of the domain and website hosting. It was set up to host information relating to the public consultation on my proposals, in line with rules governing Member’s Bills, including: my proposal consultation document; accessible versions of the consultation; the Non-Governmental Bills Unit’s Summary Report on the consultation, and; responses to the public consultation by any individuals or organisations who provided permission for these to be published. It also hosts a report produced by the Medical Advisory Group I established to inform the practical implementation of legal assisted as proposed in my Member’s Bill. The cost of the website is £572.56 per annum. Up to September 2023 the total costs for the website are: £1,145.12. The website will remain live for the remainder of this Session of the Parliament to a total cumulative cost of £2,671.95. [Registered 26 September 2023]
On 6 May 2025 I received support for the production of briefing packs in relation to the Stage 1 debate for my Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults. The cost of production of the briefing packs was £630.00 and was paid for by Dignity in Dying (Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT). [Registered 5 June 2025]
From 9 February to 13 February 2024 I visited California, USA, as part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs, meeting health professionals, family members of individuals who had used the state’s End of Life Options Act, Senators and representatives of organisations who provide information about the provisions of the Act. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation and meals amounted to £2,694 and were paid by the permissible donor Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT). [Registered 7 March 2024]
From 7 to 11 October 2014 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including; President MA Ying-Jeou and Madame Ma, Scottish Development International (Taiwan Office), Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei City Council, Straits Exchange Foundation, British Trade and Cultural Office, Hsinchu Science Park, Green Energy and Environment Research Lab, King Car Whisky Distillery and the National Centre for Traditional Arts. The cost of the visit was; air ticket £2,780, accommodation £528, bus £133, high speed rail £12, food £163, tickets for 101, opera and hot spring £59. The total cost was £3,675 met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a vase, a tie and tie pin, a glass ornament and a book. The value of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category.
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
In August 2010 I became an honorary patron of the British Veterinary Association. My role involves raising awareness of the BVA’s role and receiving information on activities and attitudes of the BVA, including access to the members only section of the BVA website. This role is unremunerated. I estimate that the value of gaining access to the website is below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. On 12 August 2021 I became a lifetime member. [Amended interest 27 August 2021]
I am the former Chair of the Orkney Japan Association. [Amended interest 11 September 2024]
I am a Girl Guide Ambassador.
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I can squeeze in a very brief supplementary question."
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Good afternoon. The next item of business is portfolio question time, and the portfolio on this occasion is education and skills…
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Thank you, minister. We are going to need a little more brevity in responses."
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "With a reminder that the substantive question is around education access in the Highlands and Islands, I call Jamie Hepburn."
Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a statement by Tom Arthur on youth mental health support. The minister will take questions at the end of his statement, so there should be no interventions or interruptions. 14:27"
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025
Result 81 for, 10 against, 23 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025
Result 87 for, 23 against, 1 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025
Result 52 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Result 51 for, 25 against, 33 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP abstained
Agreed
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Result 85 for, 0 against, 26 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:1 October 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 October 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of sustained overcrowding in prisons on suicide and self-harm prevention."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:29 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment by the former General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), Calum Steele, to the Justice Sub-Committee on Policing on 30 May 2019 that "the Ayr office was probably carved out of asbestos”, when it last met the SPF to discuss the reported presence of asbestos in more than 170…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:24 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to reintroducing the "shared cabin" policy as a condition of the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:8 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is carrying out to reduce the use of single-use plastic."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:8 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is carrying out towards the regulation of companies contributing to marine litter pollution."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:8 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is carrying out to maximise the efficiency of household recycling systems."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:9 September 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 23 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to seek stakeholder input into the development of the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme, and what the timeline is for any stakeholder engagement."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:17 September 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Orkney regarding reported delays in ophthalmology appointments for patients."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:22 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the cost to remove reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) from four police stations in Scotland."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:22 August 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the cost to remove asbestos from 177 police stations in Scotland."
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament