LD held for 5 consecutive elections.
MP News Approval i
+62
Alistair Carmichael
Liberal DemocratsThe Rt Hon Mr Alistair Carmichael is the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, and has been an MP continually since 7 June 2001.
MPs voted to pass the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at its final stage in the Commons. The Bill aims to create a 'smokefree generation' by gradually raising the legal age for buying tobacco so that those born after a certain date can never legally purchase it, representing the biggest public health intervention since the 2007 smoking ban.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Orkney and Shetland has been mixed for Alistair across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“Also in the news - 9 April 2026” — Shetland News
“How to avoid an SNP majority and the endless drive for IndyRef2 it will bring” — The Scotsman
A safe LD seat, won with 55% of the vote in 2024.
Also in the news - 9 April 2026
Shetland News · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£28,300
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£34,300
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
3,045
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Total Income Tax▼
£121m
from 25,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£2,820
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£4,910
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
39 councillors across 12 wards · Last elections: Mar 2024
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Mainland South Ronaldsay Burray | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Gillian Skuse | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | James Moar | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Raymie Peace | May 2022 | |
| Kirkwall East | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | David Dawson | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Gwenda Shearer | May 2022 | |
| Green Party of England and Wales | John Ross Scott | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Steven Heddle | May 2022 | |
| Kirkwall West Orphir | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Ivan Taylor | May 2022 |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Kristopher Leask | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Leslie Manson | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Sandy Cowie | May 2022 | |
| Lerwick North | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Arwed Wenger | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Gary Robinson | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Stephen Arthur Leask | May 2022 | |
| Lerwick South | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Cecil Laing Smith | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Dennis Leask | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | John Finlay Sinclair Fraser | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Neil Pearson | May 2022 | |
| North Isles | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Heather Woodbridge | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Mellissa Thomson | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Robert William Thomson | Aug 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Stephen Clackson | May 2022 | |
| Shetland Central | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Catherine Hughson | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Davie Sandison | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Ian Scott | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Moraig Lyall | May 2022 | |
| Shetland North | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Alastair Thomas James Cooper | May 2017 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Andrea Isabel Manson | May 2017 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Emma Louise Macdonald | May 2017 | |
| Shetland South | Green Party of England and Wales | Alex Armitage | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Allison George Leslie Duncan | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Bryan Peterson | May 2022 | |
| Scottish National Party (SNP) | Robbie McGregor | May 2022 | |
| Shetland West | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Mark Robinson | Nov 2022 |
| Stromness South Isles | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Janette Anne Park | Mar 2024 |
| West Mainland | Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Duncan Tullock | May 2022 |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Jean Stevenson | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Owen Tierney | May 2022 | |
| Independent Berwick Hills Resident | Rachael King | May 2022 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | LD | 11,392 | 55.1% |
| SNP | 3,585 | 17.3% | |
| Ind | 2,046 | 9.9% | |
| Ref | 1,586 | 7.7% | |
| Lab | 1,493 | 7.2% | |
| Con | 586 | 2.8% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | LD | 10,381 | 44.8% |
| SNP | 7,874 | 34.0% | |
| Con | 2,287 | 9.9% | |
| Lab | 1,550 | 6.7% | |
| Ind | 900 | 3.9% | |
| Ind | 168 | 0.7% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2019 GEWon 2015 GEWon 2010 GE | LD | 11,312 | 48.6% |
| SNP | 6,749 | 29.0% | |
| Lab | 2,664 | 11.4% | |
| Con | 2,024 | 8.7% | |
| Ind | 283 | 1.2% | |
| Ind | 245 | 1.1% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2010 GE | LD | 9,407 | 41.4% |
| SNP | 8,590 | 37.8% | |
| Con | 2,025 | 8.9% | |
| Lab | 1,624 | 7.2% | |
| Ind | 1,082 | 4.8% |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
✓ Won 2024 GEWon 2019 GEWon 2017 GEWon 2015 GE | LD | 11,989 | 62.0% |
| Lab | 2,061 | 10.7% | |
| SNP | 2,042 | 10.6% | |
| Con | 2,032 | 10.5% | |
| Ind | 1,222 | 6.3% |
Alistair Carmichael appeared in 1 national article across 1 topic (14 Apr 2026 – 14 Apr 2026)
Positive (+0.40)Ranked #120 of 286 MPs mentioned in national coverage
Demonstrated scrutiny of water company failures by chairing tough questioning and dismissing compensation as insufficient, showing constituent accountability.
21 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
A news roundup covering Russian military activity in UK waters, which MP Alistair Carmichael says reinforces Shetland's strategic importance; a Liberal Democrat candidate's comments on salmon farming balance; and local cultural and economic initiatives including Shetland Arts programming and a Loganair environmental fund.
Alistair Carmichael argues that an SNP majority government would be detrimental to Scotland, particularly to marginal Highland and Island constituencies like Shetland and Orkney, due to the party's focus on independence referendums at the expense of practical governance issues such as NHS waiting times, ferry services, and drug deaths.
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This article examines the potential trade benefits and agricultural risks of UK alignment with EU sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards as part of ongoing EU-UK negotiations. For farming constituencies like Orkney and Shetland, the deal could reduce export costs significantly but risks disruption through stricter plant protection product rules and potential crop obsolescence.
SNP candidate Hannah Mary Goodlad has said she would work collaboratively with MP Alistair Carmichael if elected as MSP, framing them as a potential 'winning combination' for Shetland. She criticized the Scottish Liberal Democrats' campaign as overly negative and outlined her SNP priorities including tunnel funding, cost of living support, ferry improvements, and a new Gilbert Bain Hospital.
Christine Glaser, a Shetlander who was diagnosed with cancer through the Viking Genes screening programme, will model in a charity catwalk event for Friends of Anchor in Aberdeen to raise funds for cancer support across Orkney and Shetland. The story highlights the life-saving impact of the genetic screening programme and celebrates local fundraising efforts.
Shetland Women's Aid and Orkney Women's Aid have launched a free specialist legal support service for women experiencing domestic abuse, addressing a significant gap in local legal representation. The service, funded by the Legal Education Foundation and staffed by a dedicated solicitor, aims to support women through civil proceedings with trauma-informed advice and in-person support.
Shetland Army Cadets held their annual presentation evening at Fort Charlotte in Lerwick, where cadets received awards and promotions for their exceptional efforts. The event was attended by dignitaries, families, and former commandants, with Major Cheryl Haynes and Lord Lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch presenting individual awards and commendations to cadets and volunteers.
Alistair Carmichael MP discusses a new government trial to tackle windfarm constraint payments that leave wind turbines idle in Shetland, where fuel poverty is high. He expresses cautious support while criticizing the Scottish Government's failed 2017 promise of a publicly-owned energy company, emphasizing the need for effective execution.
Retiring Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart reflects on her time in office, emphasizing her work on island-specific issues including transport connectivity, health, education, and economic sectors like fishing and aquaculture. She highlights her collaboration with MP Alistair Carmichael on tunnel action groups and praises the parliamentary teamwork across the Northern Isles.
Storm Dave brought severe weather to the UK including Orkney and Shetland, which remained under a yellow wind warning until midday on Easter Sunday with forecasts of severe gales. The storm caused significant disruption across transport and utilities, though conditions improved as it moved into the North Sea.
The Met Office has issued weather alerts for Easter weekend, with a yellow warning for Orkney and Shetland on Sunday predicting wind speeds up to 85mph and possible power cuts. Residents are advised to prepare essential supplies, torches, batteries, and secure loose items as part of severe weather precautions across the UK.
The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for Scotland over Easter weekend, with Orkney and Shetland specifically included in the second warning for Easter Sunday. Wind speeds could reach 80-90mph in exposed areas, with risks of transport disruption, power cuts, and property damage.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for severe Easter weekend storms affecting much of Scotland, with winds up to 90mph expected to cause transport disruption and potential power cuts. Orkney and Shetland are notably spared from the worst conditions.
A weather forecast warning of unsettled Easter conditions across the UK, with particular emphasis on strong winds and potential named storms affecting Orkney and Shetland, where stormy conditions could persist through Easter Sunday with gusts up to 70 mph on exposed coasts.
Loganair's CEO discusses the airline's trial of electric aircraft with Beta Technologies, highlighting how rising oil prices make alternative energy sources urgent. The article notes Loganair's commitment to protecting customers from fuel cost increases while exploring innovative transport solutions like electric aircraft and seagliders for Orkney and Shetland routes.
An opinion piece argues that Scottish independence would not prevent right-wing populism (Reform/Farage) from gaining traction in Scottish politics, citing survey evidence showing similar anti-immigration sentiment in Scotland as in England, and pointing to rising far-right movements in Nordic countries as cautionary examples.
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