Christian Allard

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.

Christian Allard
Allard in 2016
Member of the European Parliament
for Scotland
In office
2 July 2019[1][2] – 31 January 2020
Preceded byIan Hudghton
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for North East Scotland
In office
15 May 2013 – 24 March 2016
Preceded byMark McDonald
Personal details
Born (1964-03-31) 31 March 1964
Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France
Political partyScottish National Party
Children3

Background

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

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.

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]

He succeeded Mark McDonald after he resigned his list seat to contest the 2013 Aberdeen Donside by-election.[5]

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.[6]

Allard stood for re-election in 2016 and topped the SNP's regional list in the North East region. The SNP's dominated the constituency seats in the North East, with the regional seats going to candidates from the lists of other parties.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

Personal life

Allard has raised three daughters in Scotland, and also now has six grandchildren.

See also

References
  1. "Key dates ahead". European Parliament. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  2. "Will MEPs get pensions and other frequent questions". BBC News. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  3. "The UK's results in maps and charts". BBC News. 27 May 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. Dinwoodie, Robbie (15 May 2013). "New MSP to take oath in his native French". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  5. "Newest MSP Christian Allard speaks in English and French at swearing in". BBC News. 15 May 2013.
  6. "French MSP Christian Allard sworn in at Holyrood". Daily Record. 26 May 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  7. McPherson, Gareth (6 May 2016). "Holyrood no more - eight former MSPs who will be looking for new jobs". The Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  8. "Local Government Election 2017 Results". 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017.
  9. Davidson, Peter (29 April 2021). "Simple guide to the North East Scotland regional list". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
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