Orkney and Shetland
Liberal Democrats

News

Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Carmichael demands clarity on timings and advice for off-grid energy payments

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called for further detail on the rollout of the Alternative Fuel Payments (AFP) scheme giving £200 of energy bill support for off-grid families, including those using heating oil. Speaking in Parliament Mr Carmichael asked the Energy Minister for detail on the numbers of people expected to benefit from the scheme automatically and how those who need to apply for the payment can do so.

25 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Carmichael welcomes new report on fisheries spatial squeeze

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed the release this week of a new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries, suggesting solutions to the growing competition for space in UK waters. The report follows discussions in Parliament in November last year between politicians and industry stakeholders on the best way to manage competing needs (including environmental protection and energy development) without solely squeezing out local fishermen.

24 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Shetland spaceport partnership welcomed in Parliament

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today lodged a parliamentary motion welcoming the latest partnership agreed by Saxavord UK Spaceport in Shetland, with RFA Space. The partnership is expected to see a first launch from the Unst launch site in late 2023.

24 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Carmichael warns against lax regulation of energy company actions on meters

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on ministers to keep a “close eye” on energy companies in order to protect vulnerable families. Speaking during an Urgent Question in Parliament relating to concerns about households being unfairly forced to switch to pre-payment meters – which generally cost more per unit than other payment methods – Mr Carmichael highlighted the related issue found in the Northern Isles of companies refusing to connect meters to new build homes.

23 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Northern Isles representatives welcome signing of Islands Growth Deal

Orkney and Shetland’s parliamentary representatives Alistair Carmichael MP, Liam McArthur MSP and Beatrice Wishart MSP have welcomed the signing today of the Islands Growth Deal in Kirkwall. The agreement will see £100 million invested by the UK and Scottish governments between Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, with a further investment of £293 million expected from public and private stakeholders, aiming at boosting growth and jobs, including in new green technologies and the creative industries. Up to 1300 jobs are expected to be created by the agreement.

20 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Carmichael recognises Fair Isle ferry funding in Parliament

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament welcomed the announcement of funding for the replacement Fair Isle ferry, but called for assurances that Orkney Islands Council would receive the same support and feedback from the Levelling Up department in renewing its bid for funds in the future.

19 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Carmichael calls for DVSA head to visit Northern Isles amid continued testing frustrations

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today in Parliament called for transport ministers to improve driving test wait times, and to push the head of the DVSA to make a visit to the Northern Isles to see the state of service and need here. Mr Carmichael also highlighted the continued lack of off-road motorcycle testing in the Shetland after years of uncertainty.

19 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

New Fair Isle ferry funding a success for local campaigners – Carmichael

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed news this evening that local campaigners for a new Fair Isle ferry have secured Levelling Up Fund support for the replacement vessel. Following a bid by Shetland Islands Council with support from the local community, £26.8m is to be allocated to provide a new, lifeline roll-on, roll-off ferry for Fair Isle.

18 Jan 2023
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Alistair Carmichael - Westminster

Carmichael raises challenges with data-deficient monkfish in fisheries debate

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today called on ministers to acknowledge the frustration faced by fishermen that valuable monkfish stocks are still regarded as “data-deficient”. Data-deficient species of fish pose greater challenges for the setting of quotas, as the lack of information on numbers makes it hard to reasonably reflect the potential catch in fishing grounds. Monkfish is a key stock for Scottish and in particular Shetland fishermen.

18 Jan 2023
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News from Orkney and Shetlands MSPs

Liam McArthur with NHS Orkney CEO Laura Skaife-Knight
General News and Press Releases

McArthur comments on NHS Orkney escalation

Commenting on news that NHS Orkney has been moved to the first stage of formal escalation in the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework, Orkney MSP Liam McArthur said:

28 Nov 2023
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Orcadian Column

Orcadian Column, 16 November 2023

It seems the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has decided the best way to prove he’s “the change” the country needs is by making former Prime Minister, David Cameron a peer and appointing him Foreign Secretary.

14 Nov 2023
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Liam McArthur on a ferry
General News and Press Releases

McArthur comments on funding for ferries business case

Commenting on news that the Scottish Government has offered in principle funding to OIC to develop the business case for replacement of ferries on Orkney’s inter isles routes, Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur said:

10 Nov 2023
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Orcadian Column

Orcadian Column, 2 November 2023

Full disclosure: as President of East United FC, I struggle to manage the torrent of messages flooding in on the club’s various WhatsApp group chats. As so often, technology that promises to save time and make life easier succeeds in doing neither.

2 Nov 2023
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