McArthur to defend Orkney seat

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur is to defend his seat at the Scottish Parliamentary elections next May.

Mr McArthur has been Orkney’s MSP since 2007 when he succeeded fellow Scottish Liberal Democrat, Jim Wallace. He was subsequently re-elected, with a 10.5 per cent majority, at the last Scottish elections in May 2011.

This will be the third election Mr McArthur contests as he looks to extend his 8 year service working for the people of Orkney.

Prior to entering the Scottish Parliament, Mr McArthur, who lives in Burray and grew up in Sanday, worked as a Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister and former Orkney MSP, Jim Wallace in the then Scottish Executive.

Commenting, Mr McArthur said: “I am delighted to have been selected to stand again in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.  My thanks go to members of the local party for giving me their unanimous backing and their on-going support.

“It has been an enormous privilege to serve the people of Orkney over the last eight years.  It is a role I have enjoyed enormously but never one I have taken for granted.  Over the coming months, I hope to be able to persuade voters in Orkney to put their trust in me to continue representing them.

“The next election will be a tough fight, but voters in Orkney have a clear choice.  I will always put the people of Orkney first and I hope, in turn, that they will back me to serve them for another term.”