Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has written to the Rt. Hon. Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs asking that he reconsiders legislation that bans the use of an important insecticide to Northern Isles farmers and crofters.

In February 2016, the government revoked authorisations for products containing Chlorpyrifos, an active ingredient in plant protection products such as ‘Dusban WG’ and ‘Equity’.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has responded to the proposed smart meter bill which was announced in the Queen’s Speech this week. He is concerned that a change in policy may allow the Government to ignore the islands’ future energy needs. In 2009 the UK Government promised to ensure that smart meters would be installed in every household in the UK. Yesterday that was quietly changed to a commitment of merely ‘offering’ the product to all households.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has today invited the Chairman and CEO of Ofgem to come to Shetland to explain their decision to the communities that will be affected by the proposed closure of Lerwick Power Station. The Ofgem proposal would see the site close in 2021, with the loss of 25 permanent jobs for the islands, leaving Shetland reliant on a 60MW subsea cable from Caithness, with back-up diesel power generators in Gremista.

I don’t know how many times I have said it in recent years but the only thing you can expect in politics these days is the unexpected.   Despite this, the unexpected continues to happen and it continues to surprise it when it does.

So when Theresa May emerged from Ten Downing Street to stand behind a lectern and tell the world’s media that she was calling a general election we were all caught completely cold.

A wide plurality of press ownership is vital to ensure that no individual has unjustifiable levels of influence, and to ensure that many different views and opinions are represented by the media. I am concerned that if the takeover of Sky plc by 21st Century Fox goes ahead, this will undermine that plurality of ownership and influence. A cornerstone of our democracy is the free press and this is undermined by allowing one individual undue control of media output.

MSPs voted by 69 to 59 in favour of seeking permission for a referendum before the UK leaves the EU.  Commenting on the news, former Secretary of State for Scotland and MP for Orkney and Shetland Alistair Carmichael said:

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland has called on Government Ministers to stop inflicting hardship by stopping benefits where good reasons exist for missed appointments.

Alistair Carmichael MP for the Northern Isles today addressed a round table event on providing rural communities with super fast broadband. Also in attendance were Mims Davies MP, the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Matt Hancock, the Minister for the Digital Economy, the Federation of Small Businesses and several alternative digital infrastructure providers.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, has criticised the Government for their out of touch budget that will hit self employed people with a tax rise.

Alistair Carmichael, MP for the Northern Isles, has called on the Government to clarify their commitment to safeguarding UK Fishermen in the negotiation on exiting the European Union.