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: 2 June 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I congratulate Mr Currie on his first speech, and I welcome the minister back to her position, which I know that she is absolutely passionate about. I also strongly associate myself with Miles Briggs’s wise advice at the beginning of his speech…
Chamber meeting date: 2 June 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the resilience of island communities. (S7O-00006)"
Chamber meeting date: 2 June 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Loganair has announced plans to cut services between Inverness and Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles…
Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I am grateful to Jeremy Balfour for taking my intervention…
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."
Read all of Liam McArthur's contributions in the Debating Chamber
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Motion ref. S7M-00249
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Supported by: Hannah Mary Goodlad
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026
Result 84 for, 28 against, 10 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP abstained
Agreed
Motion ref. S7M-00249.5
Submitted by: Willie Rennie, Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026
Result 52 for, 69 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Motion ref. S7M-00249.3
Submitted by: Craig Hoy, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026
Result 28 for, 94 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Motion ref. S7M-00249.1
Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026
Result 30 for, 37 against, 55 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Motion ref. S7M-00249.4
Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026
Result 95 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 7 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: 3 June 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the installation of electrical infrastructure in Orkney."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail 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 remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 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: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 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: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by the High Court of the Judiciary, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody, including those whose time on remand equals or exceeds their custodial sentence, and what was the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) 90th percentile length of time on remand for such…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail 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…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 May 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 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: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by the High Court of Justiciary and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against, (c) not proven for the charges for which 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: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to prison custody by justice of the peace 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: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 June 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been remanded to electronically monitored bail by sheriff courts and received a verdict of (a) not guilty, (b) not proceeded against and (c) not proven for the charges for which remanded, and what the (i) mean, (ii) median and (iii) 90th percentile length of time on remand was for such…
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament