Photo © Scottish Parliament
At a glance Liam McArthur is a Scottish Liberal Democrats Member of the Scottish Parliament for Orkney Islands.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 2,903 Holyrood divisions on record; Liam McArthur did not vote in 309. A rebellion is a vote against the way most of their own party voted; free votes, where no party line applies, are left out. At Holyrood an abstention is a deliberate recorded vote, distinct from not voting at all.
Party-loyalty figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Committees
Voting record
The most recent divisions Liam McArthur voted in. For, Against and Abstain are as recorded.
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | For |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | Against |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | For |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population Rebelled | For |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | Against |
| 24 Jun 2026 | National Security (State Threats) Bill – UK Legislation | For |
| 24 Jun 2026 | Scotland Needs Reform: Five Years to 2031 | For |
| 24 Jun 2026 | Scotland Needs Reform: Five Years to 2031 | For |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill - UK Legislation | For |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | For |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | For |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | Against |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | Against |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | Against |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Affordable Bus Fares | For |
Register of interests
From the Scottish Parliament's Register of Interests. Shown as registered; nothing is added or interpreted.
Controlled transactions1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
Gifts4
- On 6 May 2025, I received support for the production of briefing packs in relation to the Stage 1 debate for my Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults. The cost of production of the briefing packs was £630 and was paid for by Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT). (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- Since September 2021, I received support in publishing materials relating to my proposed Member's Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults, in the form of a website maintained by the permissible donor, Humanist Society Scotland (a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and campaigns for assisted dying, of Suite 25, 4 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT). Humanist Society Scotland developed and maintained this website, www.assisteddying.scot, as well as covering the cost of the domain and website hosting. It was set up to host information relating to the public consultation on my proposals, in line with rules governing Member's Bills, including: my proposed consultation document; accessible versions of the consultation; the Non-Governmental Bills Unit's Summary Report on the consultation, and; responses to the public consultation by any individuals or organisations who provided permission for these to be published. It also hosts a report produced by the Medical Advisory Group I established to inform the practical implementation of legal assisted dying as proposed in my Member's Bill. The cost of the website was £572.56 per annum. The website remained live until the end of Session 6 of the Parliament for a total cost of £2,671.95. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- I received the support of an additional staff member to support the development of my Member's Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults. The post was funded by three permissible donors: Friends at the End (a Scottish registered charity working to promote end of life choices, of 4 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE); Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT); Humanist Society Scotland (a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and campaigns for assisted dying, of Suite 25, 4 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT). From January 2022 to June 2022, the support was provided four days per week. From June 2022 to June 2025, the additional support provided was one day per week. The total value of this support over this period (January 2022 - June 2025) amounted to £54,054 with individual donations as follows: Friends at the End - £18,081, Dignity in Dying - £18,081, Humanist Society - £18,081. From June 2025 until March 2026, this support continued for an average of three days per week. The total value of this support over this period (June 2025 - March 2026) amounted to £54,243 with individual donations as follows: Friends at the End - £18,081, Dignity in Dying - £18,081, Humanist Society Scotland - £18,081. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- From 27 to 28 October 2011, I participated in a trip to the Elgin-Franklin oil and gas installation to learn more about the industry and how it operates. Total E&P UK (an oil and gas exploration and production company of Crawpeel Road, Altens, Aberdeen, AB12 3FG) met the costs of this visit which were approximately £1,750. This included coach and helicopter transport, accommodation and saftey clothing. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
Heritable property1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
Interest in shares1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
Overseas visits2
- From 9 to 13 February 2024, I visited California, USA, as part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs, meeting health professionals, family members of individuals who had used the state's End of Life Options Act, Senators and representatives of organisations who provide information about the provisions of the Act. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation and meals amounted to £2,694 and were paid by the permissible donor Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JF). (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- From 7 to 11 October 2024, I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including: President MA Ying-Jeou and Madame Ma; Scottish Development International (Taiwan Office); Ministry of Transport and Communication; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Taipei City Council; Straits Exchange Foundation; British Trade and Cultural Office; Hsinchu Science Park; Green Energy and Environment Research Lab; King Car Whisky Distillery; and the National Centre for Traditional Arts. The cost of the visit comprised: air ticket £2,780; accommodation £528; bus £133; high speed rail £12; food £163; tickets for 101, opera and hot spring £59. The total cost was £3,675, met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a vase, a tie and a tie pin, a glass ornament and a book. The value of the items was below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
Remuneration and related undertaking1
- Since April 2023, I have been officiating local football matches in Orkney for fixtures organised by the Orkney Amateur Football Association (of Kinnmohr, Holm, Orkney, Scotland, KW17 2SD). I referee between two and three matches per month in the period between April and August each year. I have also undertaken officiating at Orkney FC matches in the North Caledonian League and inter-country fixtures. I have received match fees of between £25 and £50 and total payments received are between £501 and £1,000. I have donated the majority of the fees to a local charity, Inclusive Orkney, and to other local causes. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
Voluntary5
- In August 2010, I became an honorary patron of the British Veterinary Association. My role involves raising awareness of the BVA's role and receiving information on activities and attitudes of the BVA, including access to the members only section of the BVA website. This role is unremunerated. I estimate that the value of gaining access to the website is below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. On 12 August 2021, I became a lifetime member. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- I am a Girl Guide Ambassador. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- Since 2020, I am President of East United FC, Orkney. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- I am an Ambassador for Hearts + Balls rugby charity. I was formerly a Director of the charity until December 2023. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
- I am Honorary Patron of the Orkney Japan Association. I was formerly President of the Association until November 2023. (lodged 3 Jun 2026)
Questions
Liam McArthur has tabled 3,644 questions in the Scottish Parliament.
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reforming permitted development rights in order to ac…
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reforming permitted development rights in order to accelerate the deployment of mobile telecommunications infrastructure.
Awaiting an answer.
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory p…
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to comments from the Scottish Retail Consortium, as reported in The Sunday Times on 12 July 2026, that, 12 weeks on from the policy announcement, the organisation remains "completely in the dark on even the most rudimentary details" of the proposals.
Answer · Tom Arthur · 22 Jul 2026
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01602 on 22 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory p…
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the 2026 Scottish National Party manifesto commitment to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to comments by the Food & Drink Federation Scotland, as reported in The Sunday Times on 12 July 2026, that such a policy could lead retailers to source a greater proportion of imported food products in place of domestically produced goods.
Answer · Tom Arthur · 22 Jul 2026
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01602 on 22 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory…
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what its response is to the comments from members of its own Retail Industry Leadership Group in The Sunday Times on 5 July 2026 that the policy risks "higher prices for other items in shops" and "reduced footfall for some retailers".
Answer · Tom Arthur · 22 Jul 2026
Helping people with the cost of living is a top priority of this government and we will be taking forward a full consultation on this proposal within the first 100 days. Potential unintended consequences are and mitigations being fully considered as part of the policy development process, informed by engagement and consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a stat…
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what representations it has received on the policy from (a) industry bodies and (b) trade associations.
Answer · Tom Arthur · 22 Jul 2026
The Scottish Government remains committed to committed to publishing draft legislative provisions and progressing work on the price cap on essential food items. We have engaged constructively with a range of industry bodies and trade associations, which have shared their views on the proposal. Their expertise and experience are helping to inform our consideration of the policy and will continue to do so as development of the proposal progresses.
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a stat…
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, what additional resources will be required for local authority trading standards to (a) monitor and (b) enforce the policy.
Answer · Tom Arthur · 22 Jul 2026
We are engaging constructively with all relevant stakeholders, including trading standards representatives, to support considered and informed discussion on this policy, and to ensure effective implementation that delivers on our core aim of making the weekly shop more affordable.
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory…
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the commitment in the Scottish National Party manifesto to enact a statutory price cap on essential food items, when the policy was first intimated to grocery retailers and/or their representatives.
Answer · Tom Arthur · 22 Jul 2026
The Scottish Government remains committed to committed to publishing draft legislative provisions and progressing work on the price cap on essential food items. We continue to engage constructively with all relevant stakeholders and representative groups to support considered and informed discussion on this policy.
To ask the Scottish Government how many premises it anticipates will be excluded from non-domestic rates relief as a re…
To ask the Scottish Government how many premises it anticipates will be excluded from non-domestic rates relief as a result of the proposed exclusion of vape shops, including how many of these premises are specialist vape retailers as opposed to mixed-use convenience stores or other types of retailer.
Answer · Ivan McKee · 6 Jul 2026
As announced in Parliament by the Deputy First Minister on 23 June 2026, from 1 April 2027, we will remove non-domestic rates relief from vape shops. We want to ensure vape shops are contributing to the high street, recognising the growth of the sector in recent years and ensuring rates relief aligns with our public health commitments. We will confirm the details of the policy in the Budget, which will be followed by the regulations setting out the scope and definition of the measures, including the definition of a vape shop.
Motions lodged
| 16 Jul 2026 | Congratulating Orkney's Katie Coward on Earning the Cubitt Bar Award | 8 sig. |
| 16 Jul 2026 | Sheila Fleet Wins Store Design of the Year at UK Jewellery Awards | 8 sig. |
| 14 Jul 2026 | Reaffirming Opposition to the Relaxation of Firearms Reforms | 22 sig. |
| 14 Jul 2026 | Orkney's Creel Fishery Achieves World-First Certification | 13 sig. |
| 9 Jul 2026 | Aly Kemp Completes National Three Peaks Challenge for MS-UK | 10 sig. |
| 29 Jun 2026 | Congratulating Orkney Teacher Marlyn Firth on her Retirement | 12 sig. |
Speeches
Recent things Liam McArthur has said in the chamber and in committee, from the Official Report.
24 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
I associate myself very much with the comments and requests of Kristopher Leask.This weekend sees the second Water Sound bluegrass festival take place in Burray, in my Orkney constituency. I therefore ask the cabinet secretary to offer con…
24 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
I associate myself very much with the comments and requests of Kristopher Leask.This weekend sees the second Water Sound bluegrass festival take place in Burray, in my Orkney constituency. I therefore ask the cabinet secretary to offer con…
23 Jun 2026 Non-domestic Rates (draft)
I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of her statement, which obviously comes on the back of eye-watering rises in business rates earlier this year. Those rises have posed an existential threat to many businesses, including m…
23 Jun 2026 First Minister’s Question Time (draft)
I have a constituent who, for the past nine years, has desperately sought treatment for swelling on his legs and groin that has progressively worsened and is now profoundly incapacitating. Having sought treatment in Scotland, it is clear t…
18 Jun 2026 Provisional Outturn 2025-26 (draft)
I thank the minister for providing early sight of her statement.Although I accept that underspend is an inevitable part of ensuring a balanced budget and that the money is protected for future spend, at a time when critical infrastructure …
17 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
I thank the cabinet secretary for that acknowledgement and commitment. Despite local recruitment initiatives, Orkney health and care still faces long-standing vacancies and significant reliance on agency staff. With an ageing population, d…
17 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address workforce planning challenges in staff recruitment and retention for health and social care services in Orkney. (S7O-00080)
16 Jun 2026 Jo Cox’s Death (10th Anniversary) (draft)
I thank Jenny Young for taking my intervention, and I want to echo Michael Marra’s comments—it is an exceptional speech. She has drawn attention to how difficult this anniversary is for Jo Cox’s family.I had the privilege of working very c…
10 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
I welcome the advances that the minister has made in his early days in the role. Earlier this year, the electricity cable serving North Ronaldsay, in Orkney, developed a fault that cannot be fixed. Scottish and Southern Electricity Network…
10 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
I welcome the advances that the minister has made in his early days in the role. Earlier this year, the electricity cable serving North Ronaldsay, in Orkney, developed a fault that cannot be fixed. Scottish and Southern Electricity Network…
10 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the installation of electrical infrastructure in Orkney. (S7O-00043)
10 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the installation of electrical infrastructure in Orkney. (S7O-00043)
9 Jun 2026 Growing Scotland’s Economy (draft)
I echo all the comments that Kristopher Leask has made so far. Would he also accept that, with regard to repowering, genuine community benefit can be derived only where communities have the skills that they need in order to drive forward t…
9 Jun 2026 Growing Scotland’s Economy (draft)
I join others in welcoming the cabinet secretary to his post and I commend him on his first speech. Daniel Johnson talked about a hopeful start. I am not sure whether Mr Johnson has retained that hope since he sat down, but I welcome the d…
2 Jun 2026 Summer of Sport (draft)
For the record, while I was in the Nezahualcóyotl stadium, I was exasperated, but I do not think that I was sweating overly.
2 Jun 2026 Summer of Sport (draft)
Made a request to intervene.
2 Jun 2026 Summer of Sport (draft)
I congratulate Mr Currie on his first speech, and I welcome the minister back to her position, which I know that she is absolutely passionate about. I also strongly associate myself with Miles Briggs’s wise advice at the beginning of his s…
2 Jun 2026 First Minister’s Question Time (draft)
Loganair has announced plans to cut services between Inverness and Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. It cites a lack of support from Government-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd as a reason for the cuts, which could get even w…
2 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
I thank the cabinet secretary for that response, and I welcome her to her post. I look forward to working with her. In the past year alone, communities across Orkney and Shetland have suffered multiple subsea cable failures, including a mo…
2 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the resilience of island communities. (S7O-00006)
Seat & career
- Orkney Islands Constituency MSP 7 May 2026 – present
- Orkney Islands Constituency MSP · Dissolution 6 May 2021 – 8 Apr 2026
- Orkney Islands Constituency MSP · Dissolution 5 May 2016 – 4 May 2021
- Orkney Islands Constituency MSP · Dissolution 5 May 2011 – 23 Mar 2016
- Orkney Constituency MSP · Dissolution 3 May 2007 – 22 Mar 2011
Allowances
2025 (latest published)
Source: Scottish Parliament (published ~1 year in arrears)
Contact & offices
Parliamentary
The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP
Constituency
14 Palace Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1PA
Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.