Alistair Carmichael MP
@amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social
Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland. Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.
Promoted by A. Carmichael of 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR.
Promoted by A. Carmichael of 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR.
We seem to have a government that both lacks the intellectual confidence to defend its policies but also thinks that it is so much smarter than everyone else that it can achieve its goals by a sort of sleight-of-hand, without anyone noticing the method.
Yes, I think this is what the “it’s smart not to do income tax” stuff is missing. If you remove salary sacrifice on someone’s pension contributions you are increasing their income tax! If you freeze thresholds you are increasing their income tax!
Issue for Labour now isn't whether they break their manifesto pledge on tax. It is whether they do so in a way which is blatant, honest but sustainable - or whether they do so by a myriad of complex and likely insufficient means whilst arguing they are not.
Imho, one seems more toxic than the other
Imho, one seems more toxic than the other
November 14, 2025 at 10:37 AM
We seem to have a government that both lacks the intellectual confidence to defend its policies but also thinks that it is so much smarter than everyone else that it can achieve its goals by a sort of sleight-of-hand, without anyone noticing the method.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
November 10, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
Political leaders across the spectrum must defend it.
My weekly update, including the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries' launch of a national fisheries action plan, speaking at the Northern Farming Conference, and meeting rural groups in the south-west to discuss water pollution.
November 7, 2025 at 6:38 PM
My weekly update, including the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries' launch of a national fisheries action plan, speaking at the Northern Farming Conference, and meeting rural groups in the south-west to discuss water pollution.
Writing in the Scotsman on how island farmers this week learned the true value of an SNP "promise", following the disappointment and confusion around the Future Farming Investment Scheme.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
How island farmers learned the true value of an SNP ‘promise’ in just two weeks
Scottish island farmers quickly discover a promise of extra funds is nothing like as good as it sounds
www.scotsman.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Writing in the Scotsman on how island farmers this week learned the true value of an SNP "promise", following the disappointment and confusion around the Future Farming Investment Scheme.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Planting a stake today in the House of Commons Garden of Remembrance.
November 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Planting a stake today in the House of Commons Garden of Remembrance.
Delighted to hear more clever ideas from the Very Clever People in No 10.
November 5, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Delighted to hear more clever ideas from the Very Clever People in No 10.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
Congratulations to Rob Jetten and D66 on their fantastic result in the Dutch Election!
This result goes to show that an optimistic, liberal vision is the antidote to the politics of negativity and division offered by the far right.
This result goes to show that an optimistic, liberal vision is the antidote to the politics of negativity and division offered by the far right.
Centrist D66 party makes huge gains in Dutch election
Centrist D66 party makes huge gains in Dutch election
Result opens a path for D66 leader Rob Jetten to form a government as the youngest ever prime minister of the Netherlands
www.theguardian.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Congratulations to Rob Jetten and D66 on their fantastic result in the Dutch Election!
This result goes to show that an optimistic, liberal vision is the antidote to the politics of negativity and division offered by the far right.
This result goes to show that an optimistic, liberal vision is the antidote to the politics of negativity and division offered by the far right.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
Today Nigel Farage tried to tear up people’s rights and take us out of the ECHR. Winston Churchill, a key advocate of it, would be turning in his grave. But, the @libdems.org.uk stopped him - a proud moment and we’ll keep fighting.
October 29, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Today Nigel Farage tried to tear up people’s rights and take us out of the ECHR. Winston Churchill, a key advocate of it, would be turning in his grave. But, the @libdems.org.uk stopped him - a proud moment and we’ll keep fighting.
The European Convention on Human Rights has long been in the firing line for the sort of person who thinks that Winston Churchill was a bleeding-heart lefty liberal. International human rights law is a proud legacy of our country - and one that we can and must defend.
Liberal Democrat MPs just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
October 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The European Convention on Human Rights has long been in the firing line for the sort of person who thinks that Winston Churchill was a bleeding-heart lefty liberal. International human rights law is a proud legacy of our country - and one that we can and must defend.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
When you’ve protected British people’s rights from the authoritarian regime Nigel Farage craves.
October 29, 2025 at 5:13 PM
When you’ve protected British people’s rights from the authoritarian regime Nigel Farage craves.
Eastern Airways may be a regional airline but its suspension of operations will have an impact across the UK including in the Northern Isles. It is vital that our governments give reassurances about the future of these services and clarity about how they will support customers who are affected.
Myself and @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social have written to the UK and Scottish Government to demand an alternative carrier for Eastern Airways flights.
Regional air route subsidies are devolved and UK-wide aviation is reserved. We need to see both governments working together to fix this issue.
Regional air route subsidies are devolved and UK-wide aviation is reserved. We need to see both governments working together to fix this issue.
October 29, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Eastern Airways may be a regional airline but its suspension of operations will have an impact across the UK including in the Northern Isles. It is vital that our governments give reassurances about the future of these services and clarity about how they will support customers who are affected.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
Myself and @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social have written to the UK and Scottish Government to demand an alternative carrier for Eastern Airways flights.
Regional air route subsidies are devolved and UK-wide aviation is reserved. We need to see both governments working together to fix this issue.
Regional air route subsidies are devolved and UK-wide aviation is reserved. We need to see both governments working together to fix this issue.
October 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Myself and @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social have written to the UK and Scottish Government to demand an alternative carrier for Eastern Airways flights.
Regional air route subsidies are devolved and UK-wide aviation is reserved. We need to see both governments working together to fix this issue.
Regional air route subsidies are devolved and UK-wide aviation is reserved. We need to see both governments working together to fix this issue.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
We just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into a version of Trump's America. We stopped him.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into a version of Trump's America. We stopped him.
October 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM
We just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into a version of Trump's America. We stopped him.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into a version of Trump's America. We stopped him.
Even at this late stage I am a little surprised and disappointed to see that so many Conservative MPs backed this bill. The party of Churchill may not be dead and buried but they are certainly digging the hole.
In the end the Farage bill was voted down by 96 votes to 154. The numbers show a fair few Tories supported it, and at least some Labour MPs voted against. We'll get a full breakdown soon.
October 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Even at this late stage I am a little surprised and disappointed to see that so many Conservative MPs backed this bill. The party of Churchill may not be dead and buried but they are certainly digging the hole.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
Liberal Democrat MPs just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
October 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Liberal Democrat MPs just defeated Nigel Farage’s Bill in Parliament to tear up people’s rights and withdraw from the ECHR.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
Farage wants to do away with the Britain Churchill built and turn it into Trump's America. We won't let him.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
"I would argue very strongly that the Conservatives and Nigel Farage, the champions of Brexit, caused the small boat crisis themselves.
"It's about time that we held them to account for that."
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk
"It's about time that we held them to account for that."
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk
October 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
"I would argue very strongly that the Conservatives and Nigel Farage, the champions of Brexit, caused the small boat crisis themselves.
"It's about time that we held them to account for that."
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk
"It's about time that we held them to account for that."
@eddavey.libdems.org.uk
My weekly update, including challenging ministers over the Scottish allocation from the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund - and challenging the SNP on their hypocrisy around mandatory digital ID.
October 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
My weekly update, including challenging ministers over the Scottish allocation from the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund - and challenging the SNP on their hypocrisy around mandatory digital ID.
Writing in today's @scotsman.com: Why I am calling out SNP hypocrisy over mandatory digital ID cards
It appears that the SNP have no sense of embarrassment or indeed awareness about their hypocrisy over digital ID – so it is for the rest of us to call it out.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
It appears that the SNP have no sense of embarrassment or indeed awareness about their hypocrisy over digital ID – so it is for the rest of us to call it out.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Why I am calling out SNP hypocrisy over mandatory digital ID cards
The screeching hypocrisy from the SNP in recent weeks has been something to behold
www.scotsman.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Writing in today's @scotsman.com: Why I am calling out SNP hypocrisy over mandatory digital ID cards
It appears that the SNP have no sense of embarrassment or indeed awareness about their hypocrisy over digital ID – so it is for the rest of us to call it out.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
It appears that the SNP have no sense of embarrassment or indeed awareness about their hypocrisy over digital ID – so it is for the rest of us to call it out.
www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has described news Scotland will receive just eight per cent of funding from a new £360 million UK fishing and coastal growth fund as “utterly baffling”.
shet.news/g7kiu
shet.news/g7kiu
‘Unfair’ fishery fund allocation ‘another bitter blow for Scotland’s fishermen’
ISLES MP Alistair Carmichael has described news Scotland will receive just eight per cent of funding from a new £360 million UK fishing and coastal growth...
shet.news
October 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has described news Scotland will receive just eight per cent of funding from a new £360 million UK fishing and coastal growth fund as “utterly baffling”.
shet.news/g7kiu
shet.news/g7kiu
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
Scotland lands the most fish by quantity and value out of the four UK nations, but will get less than 8% of a new fund for fishing and coastal communities.
This is "ocean-going madness", says Alistair Carmichael.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
This is "ocean-going madness", says Alistair Carmichael.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Giving less than 8% of fishing fund to Scotland deemed ‘ocean-going madness’
Scotland is set to receive £28 million from the £360 million UK-wide Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.
www.independent.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Scotland lands the most fish by quantity and value out of the four UK nations, but will get less than 8% of a new fund for fishing and coastal communities.
This is "ocean-going madness", says Alistair Carmichael.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
This is "ocean-going madness", says Alistair Carmichael.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
If Labour agree that the Tories' botched Brexit deal is hurting our country, they should stop complaining and start fixing it.
Starting with a new UK-EU customs union.
Starting with a new UK-EU customs union.
October 23, 2025 at 7:45 AM
If Labour agree that the Tories' botched Brexit deal is hurting our country, they should stop complaining and start fixing it.
Starting with a new UK-EU customs union.
Starting with a new UK-EU customs union.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
Yesterday, during a debate on Scottish devolution, I raised concerns about how the proliferation of quangos in Scotland under the SNP has undermined the accountability of Government decision making.
October 23, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Yesterday, during a debate on Scottish devolution, I raised concerns about how the proliferation of quangos in Scotland under the SNP has undermined the accountability of Government decision making.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to “go home”. This is their home.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
October 22, 2025 at 8:32 AM
People who have come to the United Kingdom legally, played by the rules and made it their home do not need to “go home”. This is their home.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
I've written to Kemi Badenoch to give her the chance to reject these divisive calls from her frontbencher Katie Lam.
The hypocrisy of the SNP over digital ID has been something to behold after they tried to impose a mandatory vaccine ID scheme on everyone just a few years ago. The principles and the arguments are the same – all that has changed is political convenience for the nationalists.
SNP MP @petewishart.bsky.social says ID cards have returned "like the spectre from the political grave".
"Tony Blair might just reach his ultimate aspiration of getting ID cards back, only this time in the form of his proxy - the current prime minister."
"Tony Blair might just reach his ultimate aspiration of getting ID cards back, only this time in the form of his proxy - the current prime minister."
October 21, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The hypocrisy of the SNP over digital ID has been something to behold after they tried to impose a mandatory vaccine ID scheme on everyone just a few years ago. The principles and the arguments are the same – all that has changed is political convenience for the nationalists.
Reposted by Alistair Carmichael MP
"The idea that the government's going to spend billions and billions of pounds on digital ID is such a wrong priority."
@JoshuaReynoldsSL6.bsky.social
@JoshuaReynoldsSL6.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"The idea that the government's going to spend billions and billions of pounds on digital ID is such a wrong priority."
@JoshuaReynoldsSL6.bsky.social
@JoshuaReynoldsSL6.bsky.social