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Christian Allard
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Christian Allard (born 31 March 1964) is a French citizen and a Scottish politician. Allard was elected as a Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Scotland constituency in the 2019 European Parliament election, serving until the 31 January 2020 when the Brexit process was completed.[3] He is also a former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Scotland region 2013−2016 and has been a councillor for Aberdeen City Council since 2017.
Key Information
Background
[edit]Allard was born in 1964 in Dijon, France.[4] He first came to Scotland around 1986, when he accepted the offer from a European seafood transport and logistics network (Tradimar/STEF) to open an office in Glasgow.[5] After marrying a Scot, he later moved to the North East to work for a seafood exporting company. He worked in the fishing industry for over 30 years.[5]
Political career
[edit]Allard joined the SNP around 2004.[5] His belief that Scotland could and should be an independent country was shaped by his experiences in the fishing industry.
At the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, Allard stood on the party list for the North East Scotland region, though did not win a seat.[6]
Allard worked part-time as a constituency assistant to Dennis Robertson MSP, and was a key part of Mr Robertson’s successful 2011 campaign team in Aberdeenshire West.[5]
Member of the Scottish Parliament
[edit]In preparation for the 2013 Aberdeen Donside by-election, Mark McDonald resigned his list seat, leaving a vacancy in the North East region.[7] As a result, Allard was chosen to be McDonald's successor in the region.[8] His swearing into the Scottish Parliament was conducted in both English and French, the first time that the latter language has been used for the purpose.[9]
Allard stood for re-election in 2016, and topped the SNP's regional list in the North East region. The SNP won a majority of the constituency seats in the North East, and were not entitled to representation on the list, with Allard losing his seat as a result.[10]
Subsequent political activity
[edit]Allard stood for election at the 2017 Aberdeen City Council election for the Torry/Ferryhill ward and took the 3rd seat with 910 1st preference votes.[11]
Allard was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the Scotland constituency in the 2019 European Parliament election.[3] He served as MEP until the 31 January 2020, when the Brexit process was completed.
At the 2021 Scottish Parliament election, he was the second list candidate for the SNP in the North East.[12]The party received 147,910 list votes (40.9%), but were again unsuccessful in winning any regional seats.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Allard has raised three daughters in Scotland, and also now has six grandchildren.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Key dates ahead". European Parliament. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "Will MEPs get pensions and other frequent questions". BBC News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ a b "The UK's results in maps and charts". BBC News. 27 May 2019.
- ^ Dinwoodie, Robbie (15 May 2013). "New MSP to take oath in his native French". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Newest MSP Christian Allard speaks in English and French at swearing in". BBC News. 15 May 2013.
- ^ "BBC Democracy Live - First French-born MSP sworn in". BBC News. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "Nine candidates confirmed for Donside by-election". The Scotsman. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "Scottish Parliament's first French MSP sworn in". The Scotsman. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
- ^ "French MSP Christian Allard sworn in at Holyrood". Daily Record. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ^ McPherson, Gareth (6 May 2016). "Holyrood no more - eight former MSPs who will be looking for new jobs". The Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Local Government Election 2017 Results". 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017.
- ^ Davidson, Peter (29 April 2021). "Simple guide to the North East Scotland regional list". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "North East Scotland - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
External links
[edit]- Scottish Parliament profiles of MSPs: Christian Allard
