MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency)
Email: [email protected]
Website: liammcarthur.org.uk
Facebook: Liam McArthur's facebook
Phone: 01856 876541
Text relay calls welcome.
14 Palace Road
Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
KW15 1PA
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
Scottish Parliament
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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: 25 March 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20849, in the name of Jamie Halcro Johnston, on the sustainability of remote, rural and island communities…
Chamber meeting date: 25 March 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Hello again. This afternoon’s first item of business is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is rural affairs, land reform and islands."
Chamber meeting date: 25 March 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Question 2 was not lodged."
Chamber meeting date: 25 March 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "A number of members would like to ask supplementary questions. I will try to get them all in, but the questions will need to be brief."
Chamber meeting date: 25 March 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next portfolio is health and social care. I advise members that there is quite a bit of interest in asking supplementary questions, so, if I am to get them all in, they will need to be brief, as will the responses."
Read all of Liam McArthur's contributions in the Debating Chamber
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Motion ref. S6M-21168
Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Friday, March 20, 2026
Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Result 91 for, 1 against, 28 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-21120
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 16, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Result 121 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-21103
Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 16, 2026
Supported by: Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Result 119 for, 0 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-21104
Submitted by: Jim Fairlie, Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 16, 2026
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Result 119 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 10 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: 10 March 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding innovation funding and policy development for wave and wider marine energy, what engagement it has had with the UK Government and Great British Energy within the last 12 months; on what date and through which channels any such engagement took place, and what responses or commitments were received."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 25 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 March 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles in rural and island communities."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 11 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 24 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35293 by Paul McLennan on 7 March 2025, when it plans to publish the next local authority analysis for the Scottish House Condition Survey."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 18 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish responses to its consultation on a potential point of entry levy."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 23 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 6 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41439 by Shona Robison on 6 November 2025, whether it will provide an update on when it will publish the results of, and response to, its consultation on a cruise ship levy."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 30 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 5 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the removal of peak ferry fares for Northern Isles ferry services will also apply to (a) cabin and (b) car bookings."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 5 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether the Air Discount Scheme will be continued in its current from after March 2026."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 4 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the agricultural sector in Orkney on changes being made to Ecological Focus Area activities."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 28 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 4 February 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Men’s Shed movement on the issue of men’s health in Scotland, and how it plans to work with the Men’s Shed movement and similar groups in the future, including on the introduction of a men’s health strategy."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 23 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 January 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement by the UK Government on 19 November 2025 that it will develop a Men’s Health Strategy, what representations it has received in support of a similar strategy being developed for Scotland."
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament