Whilst at Kirkwall, McArthur developed an interest in sport including football, which became a lifelong passion.

McArthur went on to represent Orkney in the junior inter country matches against Caithness and Shetland.

[1] McArthur then spent a year in Mexico as an American field service student, before attending the University of Edinburgh to study politics.

[2] McArthur had previously worked as an aide to Jim Wallace in the House of Commons and as Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister in 2002.

[7] In 2024 McArthur introduced a bill on assisted dying in the Scottish Parliament.