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.
Writing to the Defence Secretary today following reports of the Russian spy vessel Yantar operating north of Scotland.
We need clarity on the location and activities of the Yantar. This would not be the first time we have seen a Russian military vessel in our waters, nor will it be the last.
We need clarity on the location and activities of the Yantar. This would not be the first time we have seen a Russian military vessel in our waters, nor will it be the last.
November 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Writing to the Defence Secretary today following reports of the Russian spy vessel Yantar operating north of Scotland.
We need clarity on the location and activities of the Yantar. This would not be the first time we have seen a Russian military vessel in our waters, nor will it be the last.
We need clarity on the location and activities of the Yantar. This would not be the first time we have seen a Russian military vessel in our waters, nor will it be the last.
It is not every day that you come across cattle in Central London! Delighted to meet with farmers outside Parliament today and to talk about their concerns about government plans on inheritance tax and more.
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
It is not every day that you come across cattle in Central London! Delighted to meet with farmers outside Parliament today and to talk about their concerns about government plans on inheritance tax and more.
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.
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.
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.
It was a past Labour government that tried to cling onto emergency wartime powers by retaining mandatory ID cards. Harry was convicted for his liberal refusal to comply, but his stand led, eventually, to the end of identity cards in 1952. 3/
September 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
It was a past Labour government that tried to cling onto emergency wartime powers by retaining mandatory ID cards. Harry was convicted for his liberal refusal to comply, but his stand led, eventually, to the end of identity cards in 1952. 3/
I spoke this week at an event held by @bigbrotherwatch.bsky.social on their latest report on digital ID. Keir Starmer's government is reportedly aiming to introduce such a system - Big Brother Watch's report sets out the serious problems with digital ID for the UK, something liberals must resist.
September 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I spoke this week at an event held by @bigbrotherwatch.bsky.social on their latest report on digital ID. Keir Starmer's government is reportedly aiming to introduce such a system - Big Brother Watch's report sets out the serious problems with digital ID for the UK, something liberals must resist.
Speaking about the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report on illegal meat imports, published last week. You can read more here:
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
September 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Speaking about the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee report on illegal meat imports, published last week. You can read more here:
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...
It was a genuine privilege and an honour to be able to meet with the President of Palestine, Mahmood Abbas, during his visit to the United Kingdom this week. President Abbas has been a pivotal figure in Middle East politics and in the struggle for a Palestinian homeland for decades now.
September 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
It was a genuine privilege and an honour to be able to meet with the President of Palestine, Mahmood Abbas, during his visit to the United Kingdom this week. President Abbas has been a pivotal figure in Middle East politics and in the struggle for a Palestinian homeland for decades now.
A pleasure to join Quality Meat Scotland this morning at the Royal Highland Show - a great capping off after good conversations with rural and farming groups across the showground yesterday!
June 20, 2025 at 10:41 AM
A pleasure to join Quality Meat Scotland this morning at the Royal Highland Show - a great capping off after good conversations with rural and farming groups across the showground yesterday!
Of all the responses I was expecting to my question to the Prime Minister on farm inheritance tax today, this review in the Telegraph was not one of them.
May 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Of all the responses I was expecting to my question to the Prime Minister on farm inheritance tax today, this review in the Telegraph was not one of them.
Talking about the work of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, in releasing our report on farming today.
May 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Talking about the work of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, in releasing our report on farming today.
Glad to be able to host a parliamentary roundtable with the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution today - talking about farmer health and wellbeing and what government can do to improve matters.
May 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Glad to be able to host a parliamentary roundtable with the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution today - talking about farmer health and wellbeing and what government can do to improve matters.
Questioning the government today on the situation in Gaza. I can understand the government seeking a strong legal basis in a contentious situation but there has to be a point where action must be taken. 2.1 million people are under siege and essentially being slowly starved.
May 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Questioning the government today on the situation in Gaza. I can understand the government seeking a strong legal basis in a contentious situation but there has to be a point where action must be taken. 2.1 million people are under siege and essentially being slowly starved.
Glad again to join the MS Society at their event in Parliament and to recommit to speaking up for the MS community in the isles and beyond. This is a personal matter for islanders, as we know all-too well the disproportionate impact of MS in the Northern Isles.
April 30, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Glad again to join the MS Society at their event in Parliament and to recommit to speaking up for the MS community in the isles and beyond. This is a personal matter for islanders, as we know all-too well the disproportionate impact of MS in the Northern Isles.
Questioning the government earlier today on the government's refusal, to date, to recognise Palestine.
A two-state solution requires two states to exist. For as long as this is not the case there is a fundamental imbalance in the ability of Palestinians to have standing on the international stage.
A two-state solution requires two states to exist. For as long as this is not the case there is a fundamental imbalance in the ability of Palestinians to have standing on the international stage.
April 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Questioning the government earlier today on the government's refusal, to date, to recognise Palestine.
A two-state solution requires two states to exist. For as long as this is not the case there is a fundamental imbalance in the ability of Palestinians to have standing on the international stage.
A two-state solution requires two states to exist. For as long as this is not the case there is a fundamental imbalance in the ability of Palestinians to have standing on the international stage.
Speaking in Cabinet Office questions to ask about media reports of concessions made over UK fishing rights to secure a defence pact. The minister stated clearly in his response that there was no link between fisheries negotiations and any other issue. We must hold him to that commitment.
April 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Speaking in Cabinet Office questions to ask about media reports of concessions made over UK fishing rights to secure a defence pact. The minister stated clearly in his response that there was no link between fisheries negotiations and any other issue. We must hold him to that commitment.
Speaking in Parliament this morning to call on the government to reiterate our resolve to call out and challenge Vladimir Putin after his new round of sanctions on MPs.
April 24, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Speaking in Parliament this morning to call on the government to reiterate our resolve to call out and challenge Vladimir Putin after his new round of sanctions on MPs.
Glad to join colleagues across Parliament for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution's farming-focussed mental health training.
Thanks to RABI for organising and to DEFRA for hosting - mental health is a serious issue in the farming community and so sessions like these are extremely useful.
Thanks to RABI for organising and to DEFRA for hosting - mental health is a serious issue in the farming community and so sessions like these are extremely useful.
April 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Glad to join colleagues across Parliament for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution's farming-focussed mental health training.
Thanks to RABI for organising and to DEFRA for hosting - mental health is a serious issue in the farming community and so sessions like these are extremely useful.
Thanks to RABI for organising and to DEFRA for hosting - mental health is a serious issue in the farming community and so sessions like these are extremely useful.
Part of my speech to the attendees, welcoming the broad support from across Parliament and in particular the attendance of Abtisam Mohamed MP, one of our colleagues who was denied entry by the Israeli government on her parliamentary delegation.
April 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Part of my speech to the attendees, welcoming the broad support from across Parliament and in particular the attendance of Abtisam Mohamed MP, one of our colleagues who was denied entry by the Israeli government on her parliamentary delegation.
A timely evening to host the Eid celebration with the Council for Arab-British Understanding in Parliament, less than an hour after the government statement on British MPs being barred from a delegation in Palestine (organised by Caabu) by the Israeli government.
April 7, 2025 at 7:07 PM
A timely evening to host the Eid celebration with the Council for Arab-British Understanding in Parliament, less than an hour after the government statement on British MPs being barred from a delegation in Palestine (organised by Caabu) by the Israeli government.
Asking the Business Secretary whether he would rule out any trade deal with the US which would allow the import and sale of food produced to lower standards - such as hormone-treated beef or chlorine-treated chicken.
I was hoping for a "yes or no" answer. Seems that was too much to hope for.
I was hoping for a "yes or no" answer. Seems that was too much to hope for.
April 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Asking the Business Secretary whether he would rule out any trade deal with the US which would allow the import and sale of food produced to lower standards - such as hormone-treated beef or chlorine-treated chicken.
I was hoping for a "yes or no" answer. Seems that was too much to hope for.
I was hoping for a "yes or no" answer. Seems that was too much to hope for.
While I suspect this is not actually due to the "wheat strike", spotting a bread shortage in the Westminster Tesco today seemed too appropriate to ignore.
April 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
While I suspect this is not actually due to the "wheat strike", spotting a bread shortage in the Westminster Tesco today seemed too appropriate to ignore.
More from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee yesterday. The Fisheries Minister stated to us that there will be no linkage between talks on shared defence and fisheries with the EU.
April 2, 2025 at 12:53 PM
More from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee yesterday. The Fisheries Minister stated to us that there will be no linkage between talks on shared defence and fisheries with the EU.
Part of my exchanges with the Food Security minister Daniel Zeichner at the EFRA Committee this morning - focusing on the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive last month without any warning.
April 2, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Part of my exchanges with the Food Security minister Daniel Zeichner at the EFRA Committee this morning - focusing on the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive last month without any warning.