Christian Allard

Christian Allard
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for North East Scotland
In office
15 May 2013  24 March 2016
Preceded by Mark McDonald
Personal details
Born (1964-03-31) 31 March 1964
Dijon, Côte-d'Or, France
Political party Scottish National Party
Children 3

Christian Allard is a French-born Scottish politician, who has served as a Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the North East Scotland region 2013−2016.

Background

Allard was born in 1964 in Dijon, France.[1] He has worked in the fishing industry for over 30 years and first came to Scotland around 1988, when he accepted the offer from a European seafood transport and logistics network (Tradimar/STEF) to open an office in Glasgow.[2] After marrying a Scot, he later moved to the North East to work for a seafood exporting company.

Political career

Allard joined the SNP around 2004.[2] 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.[2]

He succeeded Mark McDonald after he resigned his list seat to contest the Aberdeen Donside by-election, 2013.[2]

His swearing in to the Scottish Parliament was conducted in both English and French, the first time that the latter language has been used for the purpose.[3]

Allard stood for re-election in 2016 and topped the SNP's regional list in the North East. The SNP's dominated the constituency seats in the North East, with the regional seats going to candidates from the lists of other parties.[4]

Personal life

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

References

  1. Dinwoodie, Robbie (15 May 2013). "New MSP to take oath in his native French". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Newest MSP Christian Allard speaks in English and French at swearing in". BBC News. 15 May 2013.
  3. "French MSP Christian Allard sworn in at Holyrood". Daily Record. 1999-05-26. Retrieved 2013-05-16.
  4. McPherson, Gareth (6 May 2016). "Holyrood no more - eight former MSPs who will be looking for new jobs". The Courier. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
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