Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has today challenged the Minister for Communications to do more to improve 4G mobile coverage, in Scotland’s rural communities.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, will criticised both the Conservatives and the SNP for their approach to the Sewel Convention, in a debate which is scheduled in the House of Commons later today. Mr. Carmichael will use his speech to call on the two sides to work to reach an agreement rather than continue to squabble.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has challenged an HMRC ruling that non-EEA nationals working on UK fishing boats should have to pay full UK taxes despite the fact that their visas only allow them to join and leave boats in UK ports and force them then to work outside UK waters.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has today warned Agriculture Minister about the risk to the red meat industry of being cut off from major export markets in the EU in the event of a no-deal scenario. This follows news reports over the weekend that the Department for Exiting the European Union were preparing an “Armageddon” scenario where the UK leaves the EU with tariffs on goods all goods, the collapse of the Port of Dover, food shortages, and fuel shortages.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for the Northern Isles has continued his campaign to reduce plastic use. Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions he challenged the Prime Minister to work with plastic manufacturers to reduce the number of types of plastic used in the UK to make it easier for local authorities and companies to improve recycling.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has called on individuals who have been impacted by brain tumours to participate in a new inquiry into the cost of the disease. The inquiry has been launched by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours, of which Mr. Carmichael is the Vice Chair.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for the Northern Isles, has challenged the Government to look again at the criteria for cold weather payments, so that it includes wind chill. Currently cold weather payments, which are made to support people on benefits including pension credit, to help them heat their homes during particularly cold spells, is only triggered when the temperature is forecast to be, or is recorded as being, zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for the Northern Isles, will use  National B&B day, Saturday 24 March, to renew his calls for a cut in VAT on the tourism industry. The day, which has been organised by the Bed and Breakfast Association, is a reminder of the role B&Bs play in rural, island  and coastal communities.  As part of the day, Mr. Carmichael will visit two B&Bs in Orkney to speak and listen to their owners about the challenges and benefits of running a B&B.

Alistair Carmichael led a debate in the House of Commons on the fisheries deal between the Government and the EU. The debate, started by an urgent question, secured by Mr. Carmichael, focused on the announcement from David Davis and Michel Barnier on the terms for the UK’s transition deal. The agreement will see the UK remain a member of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) until the end of the transition deal, despite assurances from the Government that the UK would leave the CFP when the UK leaves the EU in 2019.

Last week, President Trump fired his Secretary of State and replaced him with the current head of the CIA. He nominated Gina Haspel as the new head of the intelligence agency. Ms Haspel has a dark past for which she has yet to be held to account. She oversaw torture at a black site in Thailand in 2002. She drafted an order to destroy videotapes proving US personnel were involved in torture. President Obama’s failure to prosecute anyone for the CIA’s torture programme is one reason why one of its architects is on the cusp of leading America’s top spy agency.