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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Liam McArthur

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day

Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011

About Liam McArthur

Contact details

Contact online

Facebook: Liam's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

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.

Committees

Liam is a member of 1 committee

Cross-party groups

Liam is a member of 10 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Crofting

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on End of Life Choices

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Japan

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Liam has 2 parliamentary and government roles

Conveners Group

Convener

Deputy Presiding Officer

Pàrlamaid na h-Alba

Party Roles

Liam has 2 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Climate Emergency

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Previous roles

Liam has had 25 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

06 October 2021 - 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Substitute Member

18 November 2020 - 14 September 2021

commonwealth parliamentary association branch executive

Member

06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021

Party Spokesperson on Energy

Scottish Liberal Democrats

22 June 2021 - 26 August 2021

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Deputy Convener

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Member

19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Appointed Member

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Liberal Democrats

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Justice Committee

Member

06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021

Justice SubCommittee on Policing

Member

08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021

Education and Skills Committee

Substitute Member

29 August 2017 - 04 May 2021

Presiding Officer's Advisory Group

Member

25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Appointed Member

20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016

Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People

Scottish Liberal Democrats

20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Energy

Scottish Liberal Democrats

01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016

Education and Culture Committee

Member

23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016

Public Audit Committee

Substitute Member

01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Liberal Democrats

01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Liberal Democrats

03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Finance Committee

Substitute Member

03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Rural Affairs and Environment Committee

Member

21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008

Economy Energy and Tourism Committee

Substitute Member

13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008

Finance Committee

Member

24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008

Party Spokesperson on Enterprise

Scottish Liberal Democrats

24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008

Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Register of interests

Liam's register of interests

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.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Liam McArthur has said in Parliament

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.

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2026

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I begin in customary fashion by reminding members of my entry in the register of members’ interests in relation to the support that I receive from three separate campaign organisations in the context of the bill…

Edinburgh Medical School 300

Chamber meeting date: 12 March 2026

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20683, in the name of Martin Whitfield, on Edinburgh medical school 300. The debate will be concluded without any question being put…

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 12 March 2026

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "My amendments 94, 65 and 68 relate to the issue of signing by proxy. The bill would allow a proxy to sign a first or second declaration form on behalf of a patient who is unable to do so…

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 11 March 2026

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Brian Whittle’s amendment 149, and consequential amendment 159, would require assessing doctors to make a person aware of the option of making an advance care directive, and they would work along with the consequential regulation-making power in amendment 303.As I have said previously, I see a great deal of value in advance care directives. I am…

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2026

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I am grateful to Jeremy Balfour for taking my intervention…

Votes

How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament

Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 268

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Friday, March 13, 2026

Result 65 for, 56 against, 2 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 269

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Friday, March 13, 2026

Result 86 for, 35 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 272

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Friday, March 13, 2026

Result 69 for, 48 against, 4 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 263

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Friday, March 13, 2026

Result 65 for, 52 against, 4 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 56

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Friday, March 13, 2026

Result 73 for, 45 against, 4 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Liam McArthur has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S6W-44091

Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected 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."

Question reference: S6O-05599

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."

Question reference: S6W-43669

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."

Question reference: S6O-05556

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."

Question reference: S6W-43302

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."

Question reference: S6W-43492

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."

Question reference: S6W-43365

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."

Question reference: S6O-05487

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."

Question reference: S6W-43397

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."

Question reference: S6W-42788

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."