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
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Co-Convener
Member
Member
Member
Convener
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
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
06 October 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: 14 May 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I will take two supplementaries, but they need to be brief, as do the responses."
Chamber meeting date: 14 May 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "We have a very brief supplementary from Alexander Stewart."
Chamber meeting date: 14 May 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is constitution, external affairs and culture, and parliamentary business. I advise members that there is a lot of interest in asking supplementary questions…
Chamber meeting date: 14 May 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Through the chair, please."
Chamber meeting date: 14 May 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Before I call the cabinet secretary, I note that we need Ms Roddick’s camera to be switched on."
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, May 12, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Result 61 for, 55 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Supported by: Alasdair Allan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Result 61 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Result 70 for, 56 against, 1 abstained, 1 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Result 30 for, 84 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Friday, May 2, 2025
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Paul McLennan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Result 59 for, 55 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
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: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 7 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."
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 30 April 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."
Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to provide continuity of funding through the Rural and Islands Housing Fund."
Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the £4 million of investment for the hospice sector, outlined in its Budget for 2025-26, will be used to bring hospice staff under the Agenda for Change terms and conditions, and what the proposed timeline is for fulfilling this commitment."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 March 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of proposed employer national insurance charge increases on GP practices in Scotland, including whether there is an option for applying exemption thresholds."
Answered by Neil Gray on 17 March 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-35124 by Angela Constance on 4 March 2025, whether any of the liquidated damages provisions contained in the contract for HMP Barlinnie have been triggered, and if so, how much was paid."
Answered by Angela Constance on 17 March 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 12 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."
Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to renegotiate the current GP contract."
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 March 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 February 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."
Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 February 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government which contractors bid to build HMP Highland."
Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament