Skip to main content
Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

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.

Justice and Home Affairs

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next portfolio is justice and home affairs. I remind members that, due to the amount of business that we need to get through this afternoon and evening, I would appreciate brevity in questions and responses."

Budget 2026-27 (Community Justice Services)

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I will need quick questions and answers."

Cameron Barracks (Police Scotland Resources)

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I will take a brief supplementary question from Bill Kidd, but it must be in relation to Cameron barracks in Inverness."

For Women Scotland (Meetings)

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Very briefly, cabinet secretary."

Prison Estate (Sex Segregation)

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I will take a couple of supplementaries. They will need to be brief, but the responses will need to be even briefer."

Votes

How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament

Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 59 Amendment 123

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Result 24 for, 83 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 59 Amendment 121

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Result 24 for, 83 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 59 Amendment 122

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Result 24 for, 83 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 59 Amendment 118

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Result 24 for, 83 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 59 Amendment 120

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Result 24 for, 83 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

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-43397

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

Date lodged: 28 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 11 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-43365

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

Date lodged: 27 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 10 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: S6W-43302

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

Date lodged: 23 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected 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-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."

Question reference: S6W-42789

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 consideration it has given to developing a similar strategy for Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-42507

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

Date lodged: 10 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

"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."

Question reference: S6W-42509

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

Date lodged: 10 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

"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."

Question reference: S6W-42508

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

Date lodged: 10 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 December 2025

"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."

Question reference: S6W-42371

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

Date lodged: 4 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 16 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41729 by Angela Constance on 18 November 2025, how many prisoners mistakenly released from Scotland's prisons have not been returned to prison, in each of the last five years, including 2025-26 to date."

Question reference: S6W-42370

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

Date lodged: 4 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to increase awareness of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in light of a recent survey by Crohn's & Colitis UK, which found that around half of respondents from Scotland are not very familiar with IBD, and over three in five do not know that IBD can be life-threatening."

Share this page