Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
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: 11 December 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio question time, and the portfolio is climate action and energy, and transport…
Chamber meeting date: 11 December 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Mr Sweeney. Cabinet secretary, please continue."
Chamber meeting date: 11 December 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "That concludes portfolio question time. Before we move to the next item of business, there will be a brief pause to allow front-bench teams to change."
Chamber meeting date: 11 December 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "We have a number of supplementaries, which I hope will be brief."
Chamber meeting date: 11 December 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Cabinet secretary, please resume your seat. There have been a number of occasions when questions have been asked and questioners, with some others, have joined in and heckled throughout the answers…
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 11, 2025
Result 79 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote
MSP not voted
Agreed
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
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, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 34 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 8, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 34 for, 87 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted for
Disagreed
Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 60 for, 60 against, 2 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Result 23 for, 98 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
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 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 January 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any implications of the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates for local communities that rely on self-catering accommodation to support population retention and local services."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 10 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 January 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to support local authorities to manage any potential increases in business distress or closures linked to the draft 2026 revaluation of non-domestic rates for self-catering properties."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 10 December 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 7 January 2026
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the effect of the draft rateable value increases on the long-term economic resilience of rural areas dependent on tourism."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 2 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 10 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 15% increase in thefts from shops, as reported in the latest Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics, and what its position is on future funding for the Retail Crime Taskforce."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release, Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services, on 20 November 2025, for what purposes its planned digital public services app will require digital proof of age, and what specifically the app will allow users to access by providing such proof."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the 2022 Scottish Government Independent Review of the Role of Incineration in the Waste Hierarchy in Scotland that "given the risks that incineration poses to human health and the environment, and the risk of lock-in, Scotland should not construct more capacity than it needs and only some…
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release, Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services, on 20 November 2025, whether people not installing or using its planned digital public services app will result in them not being able to access certain public services."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release, Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services, on 20 November 2025, whether it has undertaken any impact assessment of how its planned digital public services app could affect (a)(i) older and (ii) disabled people and (b) people living in rural communities."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release, Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services, on 20 November 2025, whether installation and use of its planned digital public services app will be mandatory, or optional, following its introduction."
Asked by: Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 27 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 9 December 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release, Harnessing data and technology to revolutionise public services, on 20 November 2025, what “further functionality” it has planned for its digital public services app."
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament