Scotland · 34,236Boundary · 2023

Orkney & Shetland

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Dispatch
Apr 2026

A safe LD seat, won with 55% of the vote in 2024.

One rebel vote stands out in Carmichael's recent record: in March 2025 he broke with the Liberal Democrats to vote against the Tobacco and Vapes Bill at Third Reading, bucking his party's support for the flagship public health legislation. More recently, he has been active on the Crime and Policing Bill's Lords amendment ping-pong, consistently siding with the Lords against the government on issues ranging from fly-tipping enforcement and youth diversion orders to IRGC proscription and terrorism glorification laws -- positions broadly in line with his party but reflecting a strong instinct for parliamentary scrutiny. Away from the chamber, he was named Farming Champion of the Year at the 2025 Farmers Weekly Awards, recognised for his work challenging the government's Family Farm Tax and his broader advocacy for rural interests.

Carmichael votes with the Liberal Democrats 99.6% of the time, making the Tobacco Bill rebellion genuinely notable. At 56% voting participation he sits below the Commons average, though representing the UK's most remote constituency involves unavoidable travel constraints. His stance profile shows strong alignment with pro-climate action (88%), parliamentary scrutiny (93%), and Lords scrutiny (93%) positions, while he diverges sharply from his party on assisted dying -- voting in favour 100% of the time against a party average of 48%. His speeches cluster heavily around economy and jobs, environment, agriculture, and defence.

274
Commons votes
This parliament
£28k
Median income
HMRC · 2024
34.2k
Electorate
2024 GE

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§ 06This week in Westminster.Live · today’s sittingOrder Paper · refreshed daily

Carmichael’s scheduled Commons activity this week — whipped divisions, oral questions, debates — drawn from the House of Commons Order Paper.

§ 07The record, at a glance.278 divisions voted

Two readings of the same data. Issue volume shows where Carmichael has cast the most ballots — a proxy for engagement, not direction. Notable votes are the moments where the whip was free or where they broke ranks.

Issue volume
Top issues by total divisions voted · cumulative this Parliament
Taxation
67
Economy
59
Employment
33
Crime & Policing
31
Education
27
Welfare and Benefits
20
Notable votes
Free votes and rebellions — moments the MP’s own judgment matters more than the whip
Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Third Reading26 Mar 2025
No
§ 08The local picture.12 wards

Constituencies are not uniform. Below — the local council make-up, key facts worth knowing, and the neighbouring seats on either side.

WardCouncillorVotesParty
East Mainland South Ronaldsay BurrayGillian SkuseIndepend
East Mainland South Ronaldsay BurrayJames MoarIndepend
East Mainland South Ronaldsay BurrayRaymie PeaceIndepend
Kirkwall EastDavid DawsonIndepend
Kirkwall EastGwenda ShearerIndepend
Kirkwall EastJohn Ross ScottGreen Pa
Kirkwall EastSteven HeddleIndepend
Kirkwall West OrphirIvan TaylorIndepend
Kirkwall West OrphirKristopher LeaskGreen Pa
Kirkwall West OrphirLeslie MansonIndepend
Kirkwall West OrphirSandy CowieIndepend
Lerwick NorthArwed WengerIndepend
Median income
£28,300
HMRC SPI 2024
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More constituency data is being added, including local issue analysis and historical trends. Learn about our methodology. View data sources & attribution.