Trump riots a reminder of risks to liberal democracy – Carmichael
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has reacted to the pro-Trump riots in Washington D.C. against the certification of the US presidential election, saying it was a reminder of the risks of eroding liberal democratic values. Mr Carmichael called on the Prime Minister to support calls for a peaceful transition of power in the United States.
Read moreNew Covid restrictions: Carmichael calls for fresh thinking to support excluded workers
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has called for “fresh thinking” to support the three million workers left out of Covid-19 financial support to date. Speaking after fresh lockdowns were brought into place in Scotland and England, Mr Carmichael said that this should be an opportunity for support measures to be brought in for those who have been unable to access furlough, self-employment or other financial help introduced by the Government over the past year.
Read moreHighlands and Islands representatives call for special measures to support exporters
Scottish Liberal Democrat representatives, Alistair Carmichael MP, Jamie Stone MP, Beatrice Wishart MSP and Liam McArthur MSP have together written to the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps calling for special support measures for food producers in light of recent export restrictions.
Read moreShort extension to EU transition needed to mitigate growing crisis – Carmichael
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today joined cross party calls for the Government to seek a short extension of the EU transition period in light of a growing crisis caused by the new variant of coronavirus. Several EU and non-European countries have banned travel and transport from the UK following the Government’s new measures against the new variant.
Read moreVote equality impossible without real electoral reform – Carmichael
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Political Reform, Alistair Carmichael MP, has criticised government claims that the recently passed Parliamentary Constituencies Act amounted to “equal weight” for all votes cast. Minister of State for the Constitution, Chloe Smith claimed that “every voter deserves to have confidence that their vote counts the same…this Act delivers exactly that”, by adjusting constituency boundaries to be more accurate to population. Highlighting the disproportionate nature of the First Past The Post voting system used in UK elections, Mr Carmichael called for “real reform”.
Read moreCarmichael presses Government over online privacy rights
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has questioned the Government’s role in privacy and security on apps like WhatsApp, during a debate on online safety in Parliament this week. The ministerial statement came in advance of the Online Safety Bill, due to be published in 2021, which aims to enforce tougher regulation on harmful content online.
Read moreCarmichael welcomes expansion of Warm Home Discount in Energy White Paper
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has welcomed the Government’s announcement that it will expand the Warm Home Discount to an additional 750,000 households through 2025/26. The programme provides £140 off electricity bills for low income and vulnerable households each winter and has seen funding expanded from £350m to £475m per annum. The White Paper also outlines a range of proposals including expanding capacity for offshore and marine renewables.
Read moreIsles representatives secure action from Ofgem
Isles representatives Beatrice Wishart MSP and Alistair Carmichael MP have secured a commitment that Ofgem will look into poor practices from energy providers.
Read moreLatest statistics demonstrate Citizens Advice Bureau’s vital role – Carmichael
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has praised the Citizen’s Advice Bureau Scotland after it released its annual statistics for 2019-20. The statistics showed that CAB supported 2,882 people in the Northern Isles during the latest reporting year, helping save islanders £3.8 million – an increase of £500,000 over the previous period.
Read moreSovereignty trumping economics means more hard borders – Carmichael
Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has spoken in Parliament against new rushed legislation to prepare the country for the end of the EU transition period. Mr Carmichael spoke on a new Bill adding customs and taxation regulation to Northern Ireland as a result of Brexit, and voiced concern that so much of the law was not ready and would need to be amended with secondary legislation in future.
Read more