News

Carmichael to press for urgent deckhand visa reforms in fisheries debate

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, will today [Thursday] challenge ministers to offer a clear roadmap on making a workable visa scheme for skilled deckhands, as he leads a parliamentary debate on post-Brexit fisheries. In the debate Mr Carmichael will highlight a range of challenges facing the fishing industry including quota, the unsustainable practice of gillnetting and the current cost-of-living crisis.

13 Oct 2022

View

“Take the drawing board to the isles and hand over the pen” – Carmichael welcomes scrapping of islands bond scheme

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed the announcement today that the Scottish Government’s proposed “Islands Bond” scheme would be scrapped following widespread opposition from local communities. The proposal would have given cash incentives for individuals and families to move to Scottish island communities and was announced by the SNP during the Holyrood elections last year.

19 Aug 2022

View

1 …

News from Orkney and Shetlands MSPs

Shetland

Wishart meets Shetland apprentices for awareness week

Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland’s MSP, Beatrice Wishart, met with local apprentices to highlight awareness week. This year’s theme is Unlocking Potential, with the aim of showcasing what individuals and employers can achieve through apprenticeships.

7 Mar 2023

View

Agriculture policy, Calorie Counts, 10 years of Police Scotland

Ahead of Apprenticeship Awareness Week (6th – 10th March) my working week was kick-started at home on Monday by meeting local apprentices and their employers.

5 Mar 2023

View

G-LMRA ATR-42-500 Loganair LCY 12.2.20, by Colin Cooke, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/)

General News and Press Releases

McArthur responds to Loganair's temporary suspension of Inverness-Kirkwall routes

Responding to Loganair's decision to temporarily suspend services on routes between Kirkwall, Inverness and Sumburgh, Orkney's MSP Liam McArthur said: "This is deeply disappointing news made all the more disturbing by the fact that these are lifeline services.

3 Mar 2023

View

Isles representatives welcome positive news on Orkney energy transmission link

Orkney’s parliamentary representatives, Liam McArthur MSP and Alistair Carmichael MP have welcomed news today that Ofgem has launched a consultation on the £371m Orkney interconnector transmission link with provisional approval.

3 Mar 2023

View

General News and Press Releases

Orkney at the heart and centre of Arctic connections, says McArthur

Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, has championed the role of the islands during a debate in the Scottish Parliament on Scotland's connections with the Arctic region.

2 Mar 2023

View

Shetland

Wishart encourages peat consultation participation

Shetland’s MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat, Beatrice Wishart, is encouraging island residents to take part in the Scottish Government’s Ending the sale of peat in Scotland consultation.

2 Mar 2023

View

New FM, HIAL, tunnels

Welcome to my new look eNews. I hope you enjoy it and do please feel free to share it with your family and friends who might like to sign up for emails.

26 Feb 2023

View

General News and Press Releases

McArthur renews call for Orkney-based air ambulance

As the procurement of a new contract for the national air ambulance service gets underway, Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, has renewed his call for a locally based air ambulance for Orkney.

24 Feb 2023

View

Orcadian Column, 23 February 2023

The political landscape in Scotland suddenly looks very different. Yet for all the timing of Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement last week caught most people unawares, the fact of her resignation was actually no great surprise.

24 Feb 2023

View

1 …

…