Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
Website: liammcarthur.org.uk
X (previously known as Twitter): @Liam4Orkney
Facebook: Liam's facebook
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
Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
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
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Substitute 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
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Member
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Substitute 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
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
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.
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: 26 June 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I ask those who are leaving the public gallery to do so as quickly and quietly as possible as we move to the next item of business, which is a members’ business debate in the name of Douglas Ross on motion S6M-17969, on action to address the impact of gulls in Scotland. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite Douglas…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I ask those who are leaving the public gallery to do so as quickly and quietly as possible as we move to the next item of business, which is a members’ business debate in the name of Douglas Ross on motion S6M-17969, on action to address the impact of gulls in Scotland. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I invite Douglas…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18076, in the name of Kaukab Stewart, on the legislative consent motion for the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18080, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on a legislative consent motion on the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18075, in the name of Richard Leonard—sorry, Richard Lochhead; we need the summer recess—on a legislative consent motion on the Employment Rights Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation…
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 27, 2025
Result 64 for, 1 against, 53 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025
Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 91 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 70 for, 0 against, 50 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025
Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 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:7 May 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has undertaken with the education sector in island communities, such as Orkney, which are reportedly seeing increasing pressures around funding and staff retention, particularly in relation to the provision of additional support for learning."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:30 April 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to introduce a cruise ship levy, including the option for local authorities to apply a "point of entry" levy."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:26 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to provide continuity of funding through the Rural and Islands Housing Fund."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:12 March 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is adequate access to support in schools for children with additional support needs in island areas, including the Orkney constituency."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 2011 was the timescale for the completion of HMP Highland communicated to it, and what the estimated timescale was at each update."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 2011 were any costs of HMP Highland communicated to the Scottish Government, and what the estimated costs were on each date."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government which contractors bid to build HMP Highland."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:26 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources it will provide to prison officers working in overcrowded conditions at HMP Inverness until the new replacement prison is completed."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:24 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 10 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been given early release from HMP Barlinnie in each month since January 2022."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged:27 February 2025
Current Status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 7 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19194 by Paul McLennan on 28 June 2023, when it plans to publish the next local authority analysis for the Scottish House Condition Survey."
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament