Party:
Liberal Democrat

Constituency:
Orkney & Shetland

Date of birth:
15 July 1965

Telephone:
020 7219 3000

Address:
The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Political profile:
Alistair Carmichael won Orkney and Shetland in 2001; he is unique among Liberal Democrat MPs in having two immediate predecessors from the party - both former Leader Jo Grimond and Scottish Leader Jim Wallace previously held the seat.

Mr Carmichael made a confident start in the Commons and was appointed a junior Liberal Democrat spokesman on Northern Ireland.

A solicitor by profession, he has spoken on law reform but specialises in constituency issues.

He often raises the complex transport needs of his island seat and is also a strong advocate of the constituency's bid to become the site of an experimental alternative energy site.

Mr Carmichael sits on the scottish affairs select committee.

TOP THREE PARTIES AT A GLANCE
Liberal Democrat		41.3%
Labour		20.6%
Conservative		18.7%

IN DETAIL
Name	Party	Votes	%
Alexander Carmichael	Liberal Democrat	6,919	41.3
Robert Mochrie	Labour	3,444	20.6
John Firth	Conservative	3,121	18.7
John Mowat	Scottish National Party	2,473	14.8
Peter Andrews	Scottish Socialist Party	776	4.6
Majority		3,475
Turnout		52.4%

POLITICAL MAKE UP OF SCOTLAND