MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency)
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
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
14 May 2021 to 14 May 2026
Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
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 November 2016 to 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 to 04 May 2021
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: 10 June 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the installation of electrical infrastructure in Orkney. (S7O-00043)"
Chamber meeting date: 10 June 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report…
Chamber meeting date: 10 June 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report…
Chamber meeting date: 9 June 2026
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I join others in welcoming the cabinet secretary to his post and I commend him on his first speech. Daniel Johnson talked about a hopeful start…
Chamber meeting date: 2 June 2026
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The Official Report is a written record of what was said in public meetings of the Scottish Parliament and in committee meetings. It is a substantially verbatim report…
Read all of Liam McArthur's contributions in the Debating Chamber
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Motion reference: S6M-20844
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 19, 2026
Result 93 for, 29 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion reference: S6M-20826.1
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 51 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Motion reference: S6M-20827
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 112 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP not voted
Agreed
Motion reference: S6M-20820.2
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Supported by: Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 93 for, 28 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion reference: S6M-20819.3
Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Result 89 for, 7 against, 27 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
Motion reference: S7M-00302
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: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Ambulance Service call-outs were made in Orkney between 1 and 31 May 2026, including, for each incident, the (a) date, (b) time that the first 999 call was made, (c) time that the call-out was completed, (d) priority colour-code(s) assigned and (e) times of any follow-up 999 calls concerning the same…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) total setup and (b) ongoing costs of the Scottish Government bond programme are in relation to (i) banks, including Banco Santander, Barclays Bank Plc, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Bank Plc, Merrill Lynch International, NatWest Markets Plc, RBC Europe Limited and Standard…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported statement by S&P that its credit rating would likely be cut if it took "material steps towards independence from the UK"."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the total savings or additional costs arising from borrowing through Scottish Government bonds rather than through existing borrowing mechanisms over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how many times it has met with representatives of credit rating agencies regarding the issuance of bonds under the Scottish Government bond programme, and what factors those agencies identified as material to Scotland's creditworthiness."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding reported external assessments indicating that borrowing through the Scottish Government bond programme could cost £100 million more than borrowing through the National Loans Fund."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the annual costs of maintaining a Scottish Government bond programme, including investor engagement, reporting and compliance."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken a value-for-money assessment of issuing bonds under the Scottish Government bond programme, and whether it will publish the assessment."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has established a maximum acceptable spread over comparable UK gilt yields when determining whether to proceed with an issuance under the Scottish Government bond programme."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 August 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received regarding any potential impact of constitutional uncertainty on investor appetite for bonds issued under the Scottish Government bond programme."
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament