Liam McArthur
Scottish Liberal Democrats · Scotland
“I associate myself very much with the comments and requests of Kristopher Leask. This weekend sees the second Water Sound bluegrass festival take place in Burray, in my Orkney constituency. I therefore ask the cabinet secretary to offer congratulations to the organisers, Pete and Gail McAndrew, for getting the festival up and running.”
“I think that he said that it is taking place this weekend, in which case I hope that the weather holds up, as that could add something very special to a bluegrass festival.”
“I, too, thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of her statement, which obviously comes on the back of eye-watering rises in business rates earlier this year.”
“I have a constituent who, for the past nine years, has desperately sought treatment for swelling on his legs and groin that has progressively worsened and is now profoundly incapacitating. Having sought treatment in Scotland, it is clear that that is not available.”
“Jenny Gilruth: The Liberal Democrats engaged with us throughout the budget process last year and they were able to extract a number of things from the Government. I hope that other Opposition parties will learn from their good behaviour.”
“There are strengths in the current system but I accept that there are inherent challenges in relation to the issues presented by revaluation, for example, and the wider challenges that businesses are facing.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,163 lines we hold for Liam McArthur, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 24.
“The minister might be aware of the stage 1 evidence that the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee heard from witnesses from Victoria and Queensland, which highlighted that improved investment in and access to palliative care followed the introduction of assisted dying laws in those states. That confirmed the conclusions of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee’s 2024 report, which found no evidence of a deterioration in access to palliative care in any of the jurisdictions in which assisted dying laws have been introduced. Will she reinforce that it is not a case of either/or? We need to improve both access to palliative care and the choice and compassion that we offer to terminally ill Scots who desperately need it.”
“The next item of business is consideration of motion S6M-20738, which is a Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body motion on amendments to the Scottish Parliament salaries scheme. I invite Jackson Carlaw to speak to and move the motion. 17:02”
“The next item of business is consideration of motion S6M-20719, which is a legislative consent motion on the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill, which is United Kingdom legislation. I invite Neil Gray to move the motion. Motion moved, That the Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 13 January 2026, relating to clauses 1 to 8, so far as they relate to matters which fall within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or alter the executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the UK Parliament.—[Neil Gray] The Deputy Presiding Officer: The question on the motion will be put at decision time. Scottish Parliament Salaries Scheme”
“The real opportunity for change will be on 7 May, when we finally kick out this knackered SNP Government and choose a new direction for Scotland with Scottish Labour. The Deputy Presiding Officer : I will allow a little bit of reaction, but we still need to hear the member who has the microphone. 15:55”
“I can give you the time back, Mr Marra. Michael Marra: I gently say to Mr Greer that I would not believe every word that the cabinet secretary says. Over four meetings, I set out a list of things that we wanted to see in the budget. At the end of that process, she said, “We’ll get back to you.” I am afraid that she never did. As I am used to saying, I do not take it personally when I am ghosted in such a way, but if we are going to dance, it takes two. [Interruption.] The Government has to be willing to strike a deal. Shona Robison: Shall we? Michael Marra: No, thank you—we can maybe dance later. The fact remains that this SNP Government will never take the bold, decisive action that is needed to fix what it has broken in our country.”
“Angela Constance: It is important that all the recommendations are given careful consideration and prioritisation and that we do that work alongside all our justice partners. I am happy to engage further because, as I said earlier, building consensus about what will work to make our communities safer is something that I have campaigned for during most of my adult life.”
“Scottish Liberal Democrats have long been clear that investment in community sentencing is vital if we are to tackle Scotland’s staggeringly high prison population level, which is both unsafe and unsustainable. I therefore welcome the commission’s report. Whatever the make-up of the next Government, it will have to review and appropriately take forward the recommendations. If the measures are to be effective, they must command the confidence and consent of victims, courts, the police and communities, so will the cabinet secretary set out what stakeholder engagement she believes will be necessary to ensure that the reforms work in the interests of victims and communities?”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the significant contribution that Edinburgh South FC (ESFC) Inch Park Community Sports Club makes to grassroots sport and community participation across the Edinburgh Southern constituency; notes that the ESFC is one of the largest community football organisations in the country, with over 1,000 players across 75 teams, and supported by more than 200 volunteers; understands that the area of Inch Park, which is known locally as the “nursery site” has been identified as the preferred location for a new all-weather pitch and new changing facilities to support year-round participation and reduce cancellations; acknowledges that ESFC’s plans have received support from the SFA; notes calls encouraging more local authorities and leisure centres to work alongside football clubs to secure sustainable long- term homes for clubs; believes that good access to high- quality and affordable football facilities is essential to supporting participation, improving health and wellbeing and offering opportunities for young people in communities across Scotland, and recognises what it sees as the important role that grassroots football clubs play nationwide in fostering inclusion, developing talent and strengthening communities.”
“I ask the people who are leaving the public gallery to do so as quickly as possible as we move to the next item of business, which is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20146, in the name of Daniel Johnson, on securing a long- term home for Edinburgh South Football Club and recognising the important role of grass-roots football. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I ask members who wish to participate to press their request-to-speak button and I reiterate my appeal to those who are leaving the public gallery to do so quietly and as quickly as possible.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes what it sees as the success of the Nature Champions initiative, established in 2013 and coordinated by Scottish Environment LINK, which encourages all MSPs to champion Scotland’s species and habitats; recognises that more than 100 MSPs have become Nature Champions over the current parliamentary session, supported by 25 LINK member organisations, and that the initiative marked its 10th anniversary in 2023 with a public exhibition outside the Parliament, before being awarded the NGO Impact Award by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management in 2024; considers that the Glasgow Shettleston constituency, like the rest of Scotland, benefits from action to protect biodiversity; regrets reports that one in nine species are at risk of national extinction in Scotland; acknowledges that many MSPs will retire or not stand again at the 2026 election, creating a need for new Members in the next parliamentary session to take up the role of a Nature Champion; welcomes that the initiative will be relaunched in the new session to provide that opportunity, ensuring continuity in raising awareness of Scotland’s threatened species and habitats, and commends the cross-party and collaborative spirit that it considers has underpinned the initiative throughout its history.”
“I encourage members who are leaving the chamber to do so as quickly and as quietly as possible as we move to the final item of business, which is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20338, in the name of John Mason, on the nature champions initiative. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“Community policing has always been a great strength of policing in Scotland, but it now faces a pretty existential threat. I thank Pauline McNeill for giving us the chance to shine a light on these issues, and I urge the Government to take the urgent steps that are needed to safeguard this critical aspect of policing in Scotland. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 16:25”
“That is not in the interests of vulnerable individuals, who need appropriate, often specialist support, not officers who are diverted from the prevention and detection of crime. That is not safe or sustainable, and it requires urgent redress from ministers. In the meantime, inefficiencies in the court system, with delays and repeat adjournments taking officers away from front-line duties, simply compound the problems. Chief Constable Jo Farrell estimated that, in 2024, that involved as many as 500 officers a day, with only 15 per cent ultimately giving evidence. That is in no one’s interest, and it demands to be addressed. Community policing relies on visibility, stability and building trust. That requires officers to be present in communities to respond to crime and to engage in prevention by working closely with other local partners.”
“To be clear, that is not a criticism of officers and staff, who are stretched to the limits and asked to do more with less, or at least work with resources that fail to keep pace with growing demands. It is little wonder that we see—as Pauline McNeill identified—officers and staff leaving the force in sizeable numbers, which strips away capacity and invaluable experience. One of the most notable pressures is the significant rise in non-criminal health and care work. As we have heard, the force faces almost 700 mental health-related incidents a day, and the Scottish Police Federation has highlighted that officers can spend entire shifts with an individual who is detained under place of safety orders. The police essentially plug gaps in our health and care system by acting as a crisis care provider of last resort.”
“Worryingly, in Police Scotland’s 2025 local policing survey, only 23 per cent of respondents thought that the police dealt with local issues. In the latest Scottish crime and justice survey, fewer than half of respondents thought that the police were effective at preventing crime. I recognise that having bobbies on the beat does not necessarily reflect modern demands on the police and policing, but when officers are not visible in local areas and certain crimes are not being investigated as a matter of course, community policing is difficult to sustain. In return, public confidence starts to erode. Add to that the inability to call the local police station— if it is not already closed—to report an incident and it is not hard to see how tensions can arise between police and local communities.”
“I thank Pauline McNeill for bringing the debate to the chamber today. There can be no doubt about the pressures on policing across Scotland and the impact of that on local communities. Against a backdrop of increasing complexity in the crime landscape, taking robust and urgent action to address those pressures is critical. The decline in police numbers is one important aspect of the debate, and colleagues have rightly highlighted how workforce pressures are most keenly felt in neighbourhood policing capacity. I certainly see that in my Orkney constituency, where overall numbers are at a bare minimum and recruitment challenges are on-going. It is crucial that local forces are properly staffed in order to ensure that policing is effective and to maintain morale in the service and confidence among the wider public.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20731, in the name of Jackie Baillie, on the safety of the Queen Elizabeth university hospital. 14:52”
“To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the agricultural sector in Orkney on changes being made to ecological focus area activities. (S6O-05487)”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20646, in the name of Jenni Minto, on the Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons. 15:45”
“I note the views of the cabinet secretary and the support of the Government at this stage, and I note the confidence and the willingness of Monica Lennon as the member in charge to work at pace to try to address the issues that have been raised by all speakers to date. On that basis, the Scottish Liberal Democrats are prepared to support the bill at stage 1 to allow it to progress. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We will now move to the open debate. There is a small amount of time in hand at this point, but we will see how that goes. 15:00”
“There has already been quite a bit of discussion about section 40 of the 2014 act, but I find myself in agreement with what Mark Ruskell said. One of the issues that will need to be teased out if the bill progresses to stage 2 is how, in practice, we ensure that we do not have overlaps in the system that end up creating confusion, which would work against the aims that we all want to be achieved. I do not underestimate the complexity of striking that balance. I find myself in some sympathy with the convener, not least because of some of the interactions that we have had at the Conveners Group on the work pressures on committees at this stage in the parliamentary session.”
“As the convener acknowledged, the bill aims not just to punish but to deter. Although there are some issues there, I think that that is a desirable dual purpose. The evidence that was provided to the committee showed that there was broad support among stakeholders for the idea that instances of serious environmental harm ought to be dealt with through commensurate criminal penalties. That view is shared by Scottish Liberal Democrats. In that context, I note the evidence that the committee received from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, which suggested that, in recent years, the existing legislative provisions have been sufficient in dealing with cases of serious environmental crime, while other legal and regulatory experts pointed to areas of the criminal law that could be applicable.”
“I join others in congratulating Monica Lennon on getting a bill to this stage, as I know only too well that, irrespective of the complexity of the bill, it takes an awful lot of work, commitment and effort to do so. As a signatory of the bill, I echo the sentiments of the NZET convener—this was a debate worth having and that needed to be had. I thank the committee for the work that it has done in allowing that debate to take place and in testing the evidence that has been received. I put on record my thanks to all those who have given evidence. The bill has highlighted what happens in the current legal landscape and has identified the sorts of crimes that we mean when we talk about ecocide. In doing so, it has confirmed what appears to be a worrying lack of action to date in addressing those crimes. I will turn to that shortly.”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is climate action and energy, and transport. Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament recognises that 2026 marks the 900th anniversary of Rutherglen receiving the status of Royal Burgh via Royal Charter from King David I of Scotland; understands that although Rutherglen’s story began long before 1126, its recognition via the first Burgh Charter gave it special trading rights and a place of importance in medieval Scotland, and that through centuries of change, Rutherglen has continued to play a key role in the region’s development; notes that the milestone is being celebrated throughout the year via a series of heritage, art, wellbeing, environmental and sporting events organised by the community-led Rutherglen 900 project; further notes that the project has been built on collaboration between local people, local organisations, schools, community groups and volunteers, who are working together to honour the town’s rich cultural legacy and bright future; appreciates the great sense of community within the town that the Rutherglen 900 project reflects, supported by the wide range of organisations and bodies that do great work to support residents; thanks all of those who are involved in planning and promoting the 900th anniversary celebrations, and wishes all those who live and work in Rutherglen all the best for the occasion and the future.”
“I ask those leaving the public gallery to do so as quickly and quietly as possible. The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20393, in the name of Clare Haughey, on the 900th anniversary of Rutherglen as a royal burgh. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20654, in the name of Craig Hoy, on opposing the Scottish Government’s proposed council tax rises. I remind members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to- speak button. 16:02”
“The next portfolio is finance and local government. I remind members that questions 1 and 5 have been grouped; I will therefore take any supplementary questions on those after the substantive questions have been answered. Draft Budget 2026-27 (Local Government) 1.”
“Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio questions, and the first portfolio is Deputy First Minister responsibilities, economy and Gaelic. Employability Programmes (Support for Parents) 1.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament notes the publication of Level Up Scotland: A National Action Plan for the Scottish Games Sector, by the Scottish Games Network; recognises what it considers is the growing importance of the games sector to Scotland’s economy, international reputation and high- skilled employment; notes the action plan’s ambition to scale the sector to £1 billion gross value added (GVA) by 2030, and the reported productivity of the sector, including an estimated £151,382 GVA per head; further notes what it sees as Dundee’s longstanding reputation as Scotland’s games capital and the contribution of its studios, talent pipeline and creative ecosystem; notes the view that there should be a parliamentary debate about the action plan and the steps required to support sustainable growth in the sector, and further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to set out how it will engage with the recommendations in the plan, including on skills, investment and support for innovation, to help secure jobs and economic growth across Scotland.”
“The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20521, in the name of Michael Marra, on the publication of “Level Up Scotland: A National Action Plan for the Scottish Games Sector”. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20627, in the name of Ash Regan, on the Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I invite members who wish to participate in the debate to press their request-to-speak button now or as soon as possible. 15:49”
“However, Mr McArthur is right that we must lift our eyes and find solutions for the medium and longer terms, and I assure him that we are engaged in that. Remand is a very important part of that work. I note that 82 per cent of remand prisoners are detained under solemn proceedings and that 16 per cent are detained under summary proceedings, with the data being unclear for the other 2 per cent. The work of services such as Upside in supporting those who are released from remand is important, and we must continue to build on our work on alternatives to remand, including bail and supervised bail.”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of her statement. It appears that extraordinary emergency release measures have now become a routine tool for the Government in managing the prison population. However, I understand that, as of 1 January, the remand population was still more than 2,000, and some of those people are being held before their trial. What specific measures is the cabinet secretary taking to drive down the remand population, which remains stubbornly and unacceptably high? Angela Constance: I stress to Mr McArthur that we most certainly are not normalising shorter- term, emergency-type measures. The reality is that we have had to take action that will provide outcomes in the immediate term.”
“Motion agreed to, That the Parliament expresses its sadness at the sudden death of Lord Jim Wallace; appreciates his many years of outstanding public service and the high regard in which he was held as a Queen’s Counsel, MP for Shetland and Orkney and the first ever MSP for Orkney, his seven years as the first Deputy First Minister of Scotland, and latterly as member of the House of Lords; acknowledges his long service to the Church of Scotland as an elder at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall and as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 2021 to 2022, and expresses deepest condolences to his wife, family and many friends. [Applause.] The Presiding Officer: We will now have a short pause before we move on with this afternoon’s business. Business Motion”
“My heart goes out to Rosie, Helen and Clare, his mother Grace, brother Neil and the wider family who are having to deal with the loss of a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a grandpa and an uncle. I am dealing with losing one of my closest friends, and folks in Orkney and Shetland, all the way down to Annan and beyond, are coming to terms with the loss of someone who the former First Minister Jack McConnell rightly described as the best of men. He really was the best of men. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that motion S6M-20640, in the name of John Swinney, on a motion of condolence, be agreed to.”
“That feels like a style of politics that is needed in this Parliament and in this country more than ever. I first encountered Jim at a hustings in Kirkwall grammar school during the 1983 election. In the dining hall that afternoon, Jim’s insight, passion and humour cut through a wall of teenage indifference—or they did in my case, and, happily, with a sizeable majority of voters in Orkney and Shetland thereafter. I cannot think of anyone who has had a more profound influence since then on me or on my perspective about how we go about building a more liberal, tolerant and successful society. I have so many fond memories of time in Jim’s company, plotting, planning or just gossiping, and always with laughter. I am devastated by the sudden and untimely death of Jim Wallace.”
“With regard to this place, Jim was an architect of devolution, who helped very deliberately to create a Parliament that would require politicians to work across party divides, not by sacrificing their principles or adopting some cosy consensus but by putting in the hard graft and having the patience to find agreement that actually delivered for people, communities and our country. Jim rarely took credit for his achievements, and he certainly did not do so on a personal level. He steered clear of personal attacks and abrasive politics in debate that grabs headlines and followers and, as a result, was often underestimated, including by himself. Jim’s was a style of politics that elevated persistence over performance, sound policy over soundbites and bringing people together rather than driving them apart.”
“One person who I spoke to at the weekend even admitted that recent media reporting and tributes provided a timely reminder that Jim was so much more than just an excellent constituency MP and MSP, although that was always his number 1 priority. Jim got things done in Government, in Opposition and outside of politics. He was fiercely intelligent, but he wore that intelligence lightly. I am far from alone, as we have heard in the debate, in having benefited from his wisdom—a wisdom that drew on his humanity, empathy and humility, which was no doubt a product of his deep faith.”
“I was his researcher, special adviser and speechwriter, although I note that Jim never delivered a word that I wrote. Me delivering this speech feels deeply ironic in some senses. Even so, I can claim credit for Jim telling the now- infamous goat joke at the Orkney rugby club dinner in 1991—thankfully, it was not career ending for either of us. Originally from Annan, Jim was a born-again islander, and he was fiercely proud of being Orcadian. For more than four decades, he represented the interests of islanders and our island communities with tenacity, diligence and selflessness, providing calm in times of crisis and always being approachable. The people who he served with such distinction in Orkney and Shetland are feeling his loss deeply right now.”
“I thank colleagues for their generous comments this afternoon, and I thank those who have been in touch over recent days with wonderful messages. I have drawn huge strength from those messages, and I know that the family have drawn comfort from the outpouring of affection and admiration that Alex Cole-Hamilton referred to. Jim Wallace was my boss, my mentor and my good friend. He bears responsibility for getting me hooked on politics and, like boiling a frog, slowly drawing me into standing for election. I forgave him that, although his lifelong love of Rangers was slightly more difficult to overlook. In return, Jim did not sack me when I tabled an early day motion in his name at Westminster congratulating Celtic’s Lisbon lions on the 25th anniversary of their historic European cup triumph—Jim was on holiday at the time.”
“The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20527, in the name of Mark Ruskell, on the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I call Mark Ruskell, the member in charge of the bill, to speak to and move the motion. 15:55”
“In conclusion, the real benefit of the bill is that it will bring clarity and a sense of priority and will give staff confidence about what we expect them to do and how they should conduct themselves as professionals. For all those reasons, the Liberal Democrats will support the bill today. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to the open debate. 15:16”
“I can give you the time back, Mr Rennie. Willie Rennie: The children’s commissioner raised that point during her evidence. She said that she was in favour of putting the current guidance on a statutory footing but that much of the landscape is not an statutory footing and should be considered. The more that we legislate, the more complicated those interactions become, so we must look at how to take a whole-system, considered approach across the landscape. That is also part of the wider debate and discussion about behaviour, violence and additional support needs. We must be crystal clear in what we say to staff and teachers about what we expect of them, because contradictory messages sometimes come from here and from the Government. I would be sympathetic to taking a look at the legislative landscape.”
“Motion debated, That the Parliament recognises that 27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD); acknowledges that the Holocaust was the brutal and barbaric murder of six million Jewish men, women and children by Germany’s Nazi regime, and its collaborators, during the Second World War; understands that the date of HMD is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, where 1.1 million people were murdered, 90% of them Jewish; notes that the official theme for HMD 2026 is “Bridging Generations”, as a reminder that the collective responsibility of all to remember does not end with the survivors, it lives on through their children, grandchildren and all people; recognises that this encourages all to engage actively with the past, and to listen, learn and carry those lessons forward to build a bridge between memory and action, and between history and hope for the future; is aware that the Holocaust is a shockingly dark chapter in human history, and considers that HMD is a crucially important event in the calendar, which aims to highlight the reason why its lessons can never be forgotten and why a zero tolerance approach must always be taken against antisemitism and all forms of prejudice.”
“I encourage those who are leaving the chamber and the public gallery to do so as quickly and as quietly as possible. The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-20318, in the name of Kenneth Gibson, on Holocaust memorial day 2026: “Bridging generations”. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.”
“The regulations envisaged would be subject to the affirmative resolution and would therefore be under the watchful scrutiny of MSPs, who in turn are accountable to their constituents and communities. Through those amendments, Douglas Lumsden hopes to introduce scrutiny and accountability of energy transmission projects, allowing communities, emergency planning services, local councils and this Parliament to scrutinise the on- going developments of large infrastructure projects that are required by our ever-growing energy sector. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I have indications of two brief contributions, first from Alex Cole-Hamilton and then from”
“That would include projects that would generate more than 50MW, energy transmission projects or large-scale battery storage systems. Applicants would have to provide a comparative assessment that covered: life-cycle costs; biodiversity net impact; impact on landscape resilience; and impact on agriculture, soil and plant biosecurity. Amendment 189 would also ensure that emergency planning was considered prior to permissions being given, with an emergency plan required and input from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Were a thermal runaway incident to happen, that could result in huge damage to local biodiversity. We need to understand the potential loss.”
“The Scottish Government should use its devolved powers to protect our biodiversity. The assessments code would give clear guidance on where pylons could or could not be used, and where undergrounding should or should not be used. The infrastructure put in place should not be the cheapest financial option at any cost to our countryside. We are seeing our countryside change, but there needs to be a check on that pace. The code would attempt to bring that balance to the process. Amendment 189 focuses on the requirements of the planning authority to properly consult and have regard to the views of local communities. Clear approval would have to be sought and given for any transmission project that could lead to significant community disruption or natural environmental impact.”
“All those amendments have my full support. I move amendment 172. Tim Eagle: This is a rare treat for me, Presiding Officer, because, in the absence of Douglas Lumsden, I get to speak about massive mega- monster pylons, which is always fantastic. I am delighted to do so, as I have a lot of them in my area. Amendment 188 seeks to compel the Scottish ministers to prepare “an alternative assessments code for electricity infrastructure.” Electricity infrastructure is having a huge impact on our countryside—to be frank, I find it ridiculous that anybody would deny that—and on biodiversity. Therefore, we must have clear guidelines on the technology that is used and on the methodology to assess the technology that should be used. Energy is a reserved matter, but planning is devolved.”