MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency)
Email: [email protected]
Website: liammcarthur.org.uk
Facebook: Liam McArthur's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 01856 876541
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.
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency)
05 May 2011 to present
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency)
03 May 2007 to 22 Mar 2011
Appointed Member
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
14 May 2021 to 14 May 2026
Scottish Parliament
06 May 2021 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
27 August 2021 to 08 April 2026
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 February 2023 to 08 April 2026
Substitute Member
29 September 2021 to 08 April 2026
Convener
06 October 2021 to 01 February 2023
Substitute Member
18 November 2020 to 14 September 2021
Member
06 May 2021 to 27 August 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
22 June 2021 to 26 August 2021
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 to 22 June 2021
Member
19 May 2016 to 20 May 2021
Appointed Member
29 May 2016 to 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 May 2016 to 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
06 October 2016 to 04 May 2021
Member
08 June 2016 to 04 May 2021
Member
08 November 2016 to 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
29 August 2017 to 04 May 2021
Member
25 May 2011 to 19 May 2016
Appointed Member
20 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
20 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 June 2011 to 23 March 2016
Member
23 June 2011 to 23 March 2016
Substitute Member
01 September 2008 to 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 September 2008 to 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
03 September 2008 to 22 March 2011
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 to 22 March 2011
Member
21 June 2007 to 02 September 2008
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 to 02 September 2008
Member
24 May 2007 to 01 September 2008
Scottish Liberal Democrats
24 May 2007 to 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.
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: 28 May 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome you to your post and I hope that you find the role as rewarding as I certainly did over the preceding five years.I also offer my congratulations to the cabinet secretary…
Chamber meeting date: 28 May 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome you to your post and I hope that you find the role as rewarding as I certainly did over the preceding five years.I also offer my congratulations to the cabinet secretary…
Chamber meeting date: 14 May 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I, Liam Scott McArthur, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God."
Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next portfolio is justice and home affairs. I remind members that, due to the amount of business that we need to get through this afternoon and evening, I would appreciate brevity in questions and responses."
Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I will need quick questions and answers."
Read all of Liam McArthur's contributions in the Debating Chamber
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Motion ref. S7M-00159.3
Submitted by: Lorna Slater, Edinburgh Central, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Kristopher Leask, Cara McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 28, 2026
Result 15 for, 110 against, 0 abstained, 4 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Motion ref. S7M-00159.1
Submitted by: Duncan Massey, North East Scotland, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 28, 2026
Result 28 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Motion ref. S7M-00159
Submitted by: Stephen Gethins, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Supported by: Steven Bonnar, Katie Hagmann, Jamie Hepburn, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 28, 2026
Result 70 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted against
Agreed
Motion ref. S7M-00159.5
Submitted by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 28, 2026
Result 25 for, 98 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Motion ref. S7M-00159.2
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 28, 2026
Result 16 for, 98 against, 10 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP abstained
Disagreed
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: 28 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 11 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what timeline has been agreed for the £500 million investment to extend free childcare to children aged between nine months and 12-years-old that it announced in March 2026."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 27 May 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the resilience of island communities."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by justice of the peace courts, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by the High Court of Justiciary but given a non-custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by justice of the peace courts and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which they were remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median, and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by the High Court of the Judiciary and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which they were remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by sheriff courts, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by sheriff courts but given a non-custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such individuals, in each year since 2018."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by the High Court of the Judiciary but given a non-custodial sentence, and what was the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand for such individuals, in each year since 2018."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 9 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by the High Court of Justiciary, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand was…
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament