MP for Orkney and Shetland
“A long-serving Liberal Democrat MP with full party loyalty and solid attendance.”
Alistair Carmichael is the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, first elected in 2001. He currently serves on Commons committees including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, the Liaison Committee, and the National Policy Statements Liaison Sub-Committee, and has previously held various Lib Dem spokesperson roles across justice, home affairs and EU matters.
He shows complete party loyalty with zero rebel votes, and his attendance is higher than the party average. His voting record favours welfare and public services, such as Universal Credit and NHS funding, while he tends to oppose tighter immigration controls and the Rwanda deportation scheme. Votes on VAT, transgender rights, asylum, and prison sentencing are mixed, reflecting nuanced positions on these issues.
Declares six financial interests, across categories including miscellaneous, employment and earnings (including ad hoc payments), land and property, and shareholdings.
Generated 21 February 2026
How this MP participates in parliamentary votes. These numbers describe activity, not effectiveness.
How often this MP votes
Liberal Democrat average: 19%
The percentage of parliamentary votes (divisions) this MP participated in. MPs may miss votes for legitimate reasons including ministerial duties, constituency work, or illness.
How often this MP votes with their party
Liberal Democrat average: 100%
Estimated from voting record, not self-declared. This is a simplified model — real politics is more complex than a single axis.
32 positions
Liaison Sub-Committee on National Policy Statements
Since Jun 2025
Liaison Committee (Commons)
Since Dec 2024
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Since Sept 2024
Prison Media Bill
May 2024 - May 2024
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Justice)
Jul 2022 - Sept 2024
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Bill
Feb 2022 - Feb 2022
Local Government (Disqualification) Bill
Nov 2021 - Dec 2021
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Home Affairs)
Sept 2020 - Sept 2024
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
Sept 2020 - Jul 2022
Figures include only interests with declared monetary values from the Register of Members' Financial Interests. Some categories (e.g. hospitality, overseas visits) may not have monetary values recorded, so the total may not reflect all declared interests.
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 4
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 2
NOVictims and Courts Bill
Victims and Courts Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
NOVictims and Courts Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 6
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 5
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 3
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 2
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
National Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 1
NONational Insurance Contributions (Employer Pensions Contributions) Bill
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Second Reading
NOCourts and Tribunals Bill
Courts and Tribunals Bill: Reasoned Amendment to Second Reading
AYECourts and Tribunals Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 106
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill: motion to disagree with Lords Amendment 102
NOChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
The percentage of votes where this MP voted the same way as the majority of their party. High loyalty is typical; most MPs vote with their party on most issues.
Rebel votes
Times this MP voted differently from the majority of their party. This can reflect independent judgement, but context matters — some rebel votes are on procedural matters, others on major policy.
