Scottish Liberal Democrat representatives of Orkney and Shetland in Holyrood and Westminster have today asked dog-owners to take extra care while walking their pets during lambing season and calving season.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has raised frustrations with repeated failures by energy companies to deliver large amounts to people entitled to “feed-in tariff” payments for producing renewable energy.
Responding to news that Humza Yousaf has been elected as the new leader of the SNP, Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael said:
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has this week highlighted the challenges of the “energy trilemma” – balancing energy affordability, security of supply and decarbonisation – in a speech in Parliament.
Responding to the 20th anniversary this week, Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has reflected on the legacy of the war and the reaction from people in the isles at the time.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today pressed ministers for a renewed debate on the operation of the Alternative Fuel Payment, citing the “utterly random” delivery of funds to people in the isles. Mr Carmichael noted responses from constituents to his online survey, which found close to a 50-50 split between people using electric heating (which in theory is not eligible for the AFP) who had or had not received the payment. Mr Carmichael previously secured a commitment from ministers not to “claw back” wrongly delivered payments for those on electric heating.
Responding to the Spring Budget today, Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has criticised the “skewed” priorities of the Conservatives in pushing major tax breaks for the wealthy and major businesses while refusing to expand energy bills support and hitting families and small businesses with further taxes.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on the government to reverse its “questionable” decision to exclude distillers from the successor energy bills discount scheme coming in next month, ahead of this week’s Budget. Writing in PoliticsHome today, Mr Carmichael highlighted the “linchpin” role many distillers play in providing quality jobs and tourism interest in communities in the Highlands and Islands, including in the Northern Isles. He further noted that beer brewers and winemakers are to be included in the provisional criteria, despite being far less energy-intensive industries than distilling.
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has called for a better strategy from the government on brain tumour research funding in a debate in Parliament. Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Carmichael highlighted the progress made in recent years in delivering ringfenced funding for research, but warned that structural problems were still standing in the way. The MP also highlighted the wider need for more openness in talking about brain tumours amongst friends and family.
Scottish Liberal Democrat and Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart, has welcomed a response from the Scottish Government to her written question seeking an update on unexploded ordnance (UXOs) clearance methods in Scotland’s waters.
Another year is upon us and it has been a case of hitting the ground running on the return of the Parliament after the festive break. This week though has seen great disruption across Shetland with wintery weather.
Called on the First Minister during FMQs to re-think the broadband voucher scheme due to inflation impacting its real-terms...
Orkney’s MSP, Liam McArthur has invited the First Minister on a tour of Orkney to explain the government’s broadband policy to locals, after Humza Yousaf claimed that every home in Scotland could access superfast broadband.
James Stockan’s announcement on Monday that he is stepping down from Orkney Islands Council caught most people by surprise, certainly in its timing. Indeed, the echoes with a similar, sudden resignation almost exactly a year ago are uncanny.
Speaking after the Scottish Parliament’s Stage 1 debate on the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill, Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur said:
Shetland’s MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat, Beatrice Wishart, has highlighted the absence of cruise ships in the Scottish Government’s Visitor Levy Bill in a speech during the first stage of the bill’s passage through the Scottish Parliament.
Responding to the announcement by Councillor James Stockan that he is stepping down as leader and as a member of Orkney Islands Council, Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur said:
What better place to start the first working week of the New Year but standing literally at the top of the country - on Saxa Vord at arguably one of the best views in Shetland.