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
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
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
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Substitute Member
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
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
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Substitute 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 September 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-17147, in the name of Sarah Boyack, on the Scottish Youth Parliament’s work on transport. The debate will be concluded without any question being put…
Chamber meeting date: 11 September 2025
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "It is no real surprise that, in recent years, 100 per cent of houses in Orkney have been SME built…
Chamber meeting date: 11 September 2025
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "It is no real surprise that, in recent years, 100 per cent of houses in Orkney have been SME built…
Chamber meeting date: 11 September 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-18795, in the name of Kate Forbes, on supporting Scottish exports in response to global uncertainty. 15:27"
Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2025
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The first item of business is portfolio question time, and the first portfolio is rural affairs, land reform and islands…
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Supported by: Richard Lochhead
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025
Result 60 for, 49 against, 7 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025
Result 23 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025
Result 26 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Result 72 for, 45 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 8, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Result 91 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
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: 10 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of concerns being raised in communities across the Highlands and Islands in relation to land auctions involving potentially misleading advertising, what action it will take to ensure that people who believe they have been affected by such practices have recourse under Scots law, including access…
Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 9 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to seek stakeholder input into the development of the Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme, and what the timeline is for any stakeholder engagement."
Answer expected on 24 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is carrying out to reduce the use of single-use plastic."
Answer expected on 23 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is carrying out to maximise the efficiency of household recycling systems."
Answer expected on 23 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is carrying out towards the regulation of companies contributing to marine litter pollution."
Answer expected on 23 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 September 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has done to (a) identify any specific barriers preventing girls from feeling safe in public play spaces and (b) develop guidance for public bodies to address any such barriers."
Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 4 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 August 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has conducted on the issue of the cancellation of police officers’ rest days, which has reportedly had a detrimental impact on officers’ mental health."
Answered by Angela Constance on 3 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 25 August 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government when a national framework of trauma-informed training and workforce development on violence against women and girls will be implemented across the (a) public and (b) third sector."
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 August 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to support initiatives that encourage workplace policies and practices that contain the values of Equally Safe."
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 3 September 2025
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 August 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has conducted on the issue of minimum police staffing levels not being met, which has reportedly had a detrimental impact on the mental health of the police force."
Answered by Angela Constance on 1 September 2025
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament