Alistair Carmichael
Liberal Democrat - Orkney and Shetland
7,807 (37.7%) majority - 2024 General ElectionFirst elected: 7th June 2001
4 APPG Officer Positions (as of 18 Jun 2025)
Fisheries, Jordan, Marine Energy, Syria8 APPG Memberships
Beer, Multiple Sclerosis, Environment, Hong Kong, Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services, Prostate Cancer, Uyghurs, Young Carers and Young Adult Carers30 Former APPG Officer Positions
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Arab World, Bahá'í, Bahá'í Faith, Brain Tumours, Britiish Offshore Oil and Gas Industry, Broadband and Digital Communication, Cameroon, China, Choice at the End of Life, Death Penalty, Deliberative Democracy, Democracy and Human Rights in the Gulf, Freedom of Movement, Geographically Protected Foods, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Lower Carbon Construction Vehicles, Multiple Sclerosis, Music Education, Offshore Oil and Gas, Offshore Oil and Gas Industry, Oman, Plumbers' Pensions, Qatar, Scotch Whisky, Shellfish Aquaculture, Trafficked Britons in Syria, UK Islands, UyghursDivision Voting information
Alistair Carmichael voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 366 Noes - 41
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(16 debate interactions)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
(9 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(41 debate contributions)
(20 debate contributions)
(19 debate contributions)
(19 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,645 words contributed)
(289 words contributed)
(93 words contributed)
Orkney and Shetland Petitions
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
of 186,938 signatures (0.08%)
of 144,550 signatures (0.08%)
of 181,398 signatures (0.06%)
of 417,564 signatures (0.03%)
of 186,938 signatures (0.08%)
of 417,564 signatures (0.03%)
of 144,550 signatures (0.08%)
of 181,398 signatures (0.06%)
of 107,865 signatures (0.09%)
c. 647 added daily
144,688
(Estimated)
Tighten the rules on political donations
Sign this petition Gov Responded - 26 Feb 2025 Debated on - 31 Mar 2025 View Alistair Carmichael's petition debate contributionscloses in 1 week, 1 day
We want the government to:
Remove loopholes that allow wealthy foreign individuals to make donations into UK political parties (e.g. by funnelling through UK registered companies).
Cap all donations to a reasonable amount.
Review limits on the fines that can be levied for breaking the rules
Petition Closed
Don't change inheritance tax relief for working farms
Gov Responded - 5 Dec 2024 Debated on - 10 Feb 2025 View Alistair Carmichael's petition debate contributionsclosed 2 months ago
We think that changing inheritance tax relief for agricultural land will devastate farms nationwide, forcing families to sell land and assets just to stay on their property. We urge the government to keep the current exemptions for working farms.
Latest EDMs signed by Alistair Carmichael
Farmers, growers and the supermarket supply chain
Tabled by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)That this House recognises that farmers and growers, in the UK and overseas, require fair dealing in the grocery supply chain in order to survive and thrive; welcomes the 2008 Competition Commission Inquiry which found that larger retailers and supermarkets often abused their power by transferring excessive risk and unexpected …
(Most recent: 3 Jul 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 17
Labour: 3
Conservative: 1
Plaid Cymru: 1
Independent: 1
Traditional Unionist Voice: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Green Party: 1
Import of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Tabled by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)That this House notes that the International Court of Justice has called for all states to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory and to take steps to prevent trade …
(Most recent: 11 Jul 2025)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 26
Liberal Democrat: 12
Scottish National Party: 7
Independent: 6
Green Party: 4
Plaid Cymru: 4
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Alliance: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Alistair Carmichael, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Alistair Carmichael has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Alistair Carmichael has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
12 Bills introduced by Alistair Carmichael
A Bill to set targets for the reduction of plastic pollution; to require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy and annual reports on plastic pollution reduction; to establish an advisory committee on plastic pollution; and for connected purposes.
Friday 6th May 2022
A Bill to require Ministers of the Crown to disclose that they have been issued with a fixed penalty notice; and for connected purposes.
Friday 6th May 2022
A Bill to make provision about the Groceries Code Adjudicator; to require coordination between the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator; to make provision about public procurement in respect of British food products; to make provision about the labelling of food products; and for connected purposes.
Friday 12th September 2025
A Bill to make provision about the powers and duties of the Groceries Code Adjudicator; and for connected purposes.
Monday 11th December 2023
A Bill to prohibit any increase in the minimum income requirement for family visas; and for connected purposes.
Monday 19th February 2024
A Bill to make provision for the appointment by Parliament of the Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner if the post is vacant for three months or more; and for connected purposes.
Thursday 12th January 2023
A Bill to set targets for the reduction of plastic pollution; to require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy and annual reports on plastic pollution reduction; to establish an advisory committee on plastic pollution; and for connected purposes.
Thursday 5th November 2020
A Bill to place requirements on the Government relating to the Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984 and human rights in Hong Kong; to make provision about immigration for Hong Kong residents including granting rights to live in the United Kingdom; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision about the acceptance of Scottish banknotes throughout the United Kingdom; to oblige businesses and companies to accept Scottish banknotes as payment; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to set targets for the reduction of plastic pollution; to require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy and annual reports on plastic pollution reduction; to establish an advisory committee on plastic pollution; and for connected purposes.
Monday 25th February 2019
A Bill to make provision about the disclosure of the quality of mobile telecommunications network coverage by providers and establish penalties for non-compliance; to provide recourse for consumers who enter contracts for such services that do not perform as advertised; and for connected purposes.
Tuesday 2nd February 2016
27 Bills co-sponsored by Alistair Carmichael
Political Donations Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Manuela Perteghella (LD)
Scottish Law Officers (Devolution) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Joanna Cherry (SNP)
Energy Costs (Pre-payment Meters and Social Tariffs) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Kenny MacAskill (Alba)
Brain Tumours Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Siobhain McDonagh (Lab)
Fire and Building Safety (Public Inquiry) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Daisy Cooper (LD)
Sewage Discharges Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Tim Farron (LD)
Import of Products of Forced Labour from Xinjiang (Prohibition) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Brendan O'Hara (SNP)
Tibet (Reciprocal Access) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tim Loughton (Con)
Environment (Regulation) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tim Farron (LD)
Company Transparency (Carbon in Supply Chains) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Karen Bradley (Con)
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Christine Jardine (LD)
Workers (Definition and Rights) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Chris Stephens (SNP)
Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Afzal Khan (Lab)
Animals (Recognition of Sentience) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Kerry McCarthy (Lab)
Plastics Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Geraint Davies (Ind)
Parental Leave and Pay Arrangements (Publication) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jo Swinson (LD)
Multi-employer Pension Schemes Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alan Brown (SNP)
Supervised Drug Consumption Facilities Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alison Thewliss (SNP)
Unsolicited Calls (Prevention) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Stephen Kerr (Con)
Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Karen Lee (Lab)
Cold Weather Payments Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Hywel Williams (PC)
Food Advertising (Protection of Children from Targeting) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Kirstene Hair (Con)
Courts (Abuse of Process) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
Vehicle Fuel (Publication of Tax Information) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Peter Aldous (Con)
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Liz Saville Roberts (PC)
Promotion of Israeli-Palestinian Peace (United Kingdom Participation) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Joan Ryan (TIG)
Government Services (Telecommunication Charges) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Chris Stephens (SNP)
Latest 8 Written Questions
(View all written questions)3 Department for Energy Security & Net Zero Questions
(View all Alistair Carmichael's DESNZ questions)The Government continues to engage with tidal stream industry on maintaining high levels of UK content in tidal stream projects.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will continue to review the merits of setting a target for tidal stream deployment and will continue to engage with stakeholders on this.
Tidal stream is a home-grown industry of considerable promise, and the UK remains the world leader in tidal stream generation technologies, with over half of the world's deployment of this innovation situated in UK waters.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The minimum budget for tidal stream was set in March at £10m.
The Secretary of State will confirm his decision on whether to increase the AR6 budget by 1st August, before the AR6 bidding window opens.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Office for Budget Responsibility spirits alcohol duty receipts forecast can be found in table 3.9 of the ‘detailed forecast tables: receipts’ publication accompanying the Economic and Fiscal Outlook published in March 2024: OBR Economic and Fiscal Outlook Detailed Forecast Table Receipts - OBR (obr.uk)
The year-to-date spirits duty receipts for April to August 2024 can be found in the statistics table accompanying HMRC’s ‘tax receipts and National Insurance contributions for the UK’ publication: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk
The OBR will be publishing updated forecasts on 30 October 2024.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 1 August 2023, spirits duty rates were increased in line with inflation, after 6 years of consecutive freezes. Duty is currently frozen until 1 February 2025.
The Government is closely monitoring the impact of the recent reforms and rates that took effect on 1 August 2023.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events.
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
This Government’s priority is to maintain strong border security and steps are always taken to constantly improve the accuracy of individual identification before arrival and at the border.
Border Force checks all passengers arriving at the UK border on scheduled services to identify individuals who pose, or are suspected to pose, a risk to the national interest.
Identities, and combinations of names and dates of birth, are not necessarily unique. Individuals who share names with persons of interest may experience closer examination than those who do not, and Border Force Officers may ask them additional questions to establish their identity and allow them to proceed as quickly as possible.
Enhancements to the technical infrastructure for border checks are being rolled out to assist Border Force officers as they make their decisions.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Our priority is to maintain a secure border. Border Force performs checks on all passengers arriving at the UK border on scheduled services to identify individuals who pose, or are suspected to pose, a risk to the national interest.
Identities, and combinations of names and dates of birth, are not necessarily unique. Individuals who share names with persons of interest may experience closer examination than would otherwise be the case.
The Home Office is making significant investment to improve the underlying technical infrastructure which performs border checks to identify individuals more precisely. This will reduce the number of individuals incorrectly matched to persons of interest and enable Border Force to identify more quickly individuals who are not to be confused with persons of interest. We expect these improvements to start having effect over the summer.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The UK Government constantly monitors and regularly assesses the security of critical national infrastructure, including energy and telecommunications assets in the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone. This is a whole-of-Government effort involving multiple Departments, including the Ministry of Defence.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)