Commenting on reports that the Prime Minister is set to visit Scotland, Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael said:

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today backed an ambitious plan to help the 2.9m “excluded” taxpayers deal with the impact of Covid and support the UK’s economic recovery.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has joined a group of 26 cross-party representatives led by fellow Liberal Democrat Jamie Stone MP in a letter calling on the Payments System Regulator (PSR) and the Government to take action on the interchange fee – allowing for cash machines up and down the country to once again become free to use.

Shetland MSP, Beatrice Wishart, and Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, have today written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions calling on her to take direct action to resolve disruption to Winter Fuel Payments and the system’s helpline. The helpline, intended to support elderly recipients of the Winter Fuel Payment, was disrupted for several weeks, with caseworkers, the Citizens Advice Bureau and constituents unable to get through to support workers in case of problems with their payment and no explanation from the Government on the reasons for delays to payments.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has spoken today in a parliamentary debate on the Equitable Life financial scandal, highlighting the need for a change in attitude by financial regulators in light of the ongoing struggles of victims of financial fraud to get recompense. Mr Carmichael raised the more recent example of the Midas fraud which has also impacted people in the isles and North East Scotland, with the Financial Conduct Authority criticised for its passive response to concerns.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, to demand urgent clarification on the detail of an announced compensation scheme for seafood exporters suffering losses due to Brexit trade disruption. In the letter Mr Carmichael highlighted the lack of information on how businesses can access the scheme and concerns about the cap on claims.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael MP, has voiced concern after Government statistics showed a major rise in pending applications for EU settled status in the UK. The latest figures show the backlog of pending applications doubled in December from 198,000 to 392,000.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has criticised Boris Johnson for claiming an “El Dorado” of opportunities for fishing in 2026, after the Prime Minister repeated widely-criticised claims that the UK would have access to all the fish in its waters after that date.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has reacted to the announcement of a £23M compensation scheme for seafood exporters facing losses due to trade disruption with the EU, saying it was the “bare minimum” the Government could do. Mr Carmichael noted concerns about the lack of detail on the measures, amid fears that the Government would limit claims and seek to invalidate many applications for support.

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has condemned the Government’s rejection of amendments to the Trade Bill that would have prevented the UK making trade deals with countries that commit genocide. Despite a sizeable rebellion the Government forced down the amendment on a 319 to 308 vote.