Alasdair Allan

Alasdair Allan
MSP
Minister for International Development and Europe
Assumed office
18 May 2016
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded by Humza Yousaf (as Minister for Europe and International Development)
Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages
In office
7 December 2011 – 18 May 2016
First Minister Alex Salmond
Nicola Sturgeon
Preceded by Himself (as Minister for Learning and Skills)
Succeeded by Shirley-Anne Somerville (as Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science)
Minister for Learning and Skills
In office
20 May 2011 – 7 December 2011
First Minister Alex Salmond
Preceded by Angela Constance as Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning
Succeeded by Himself (as Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Assumed office
3 May 2007
Preceded by Alasdair Morrison
Majority 3,496
Personal details
Born (1971-05-06) 6 May 1971
Ashkirk, Scotland
Political party Scottish National Party
Alma mater University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow
Religion Church of Scotland

Alasdair James Allan (born 6 May 1971) is the Scottish Government's Minister for International Development and Europe.

Career

A native of Ashkirk, near Selkirk, Alasdair Allan attended Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities and devoted his time and employment to the Scottish National Party[1] (SNP) in Peterhead, working for Alex Salmond MP, the now former First Minister of Scotland, and he subsequently became assistant to Michael Russell MSP.

Allan was the SNP candidate for Gordon at the 2003 Scottish Parliament election. As National Secretary of the SNP, he was responsible in July 2004 for the expulsion of Campbell Martin MSP from the party after Martin had claimed that there was a case for supporters of independence not voting SNP.[2]

Alasdair Allan was next in line to become a list MSP for North East Scotland when Richard Lochhead resigned to fight the Moray by-election, however he decided instead to devote himself to contesting the Western Isles, a key Labour-SNP marginal seat in the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary election. He relocated to Lewis and resigned his post as SNP National Secretary.[3] This move proved successful, as he was elected with 46.6% of the vote — a 5.4% swing from Labour.

In the 2011 Scottish Parliament General Election Allan again stood for the SNP in the now renamed seat of Na h-Eileanan an Iar and increased his majority, returning to Holyrood with 65.3% of the vote, an increase of 18.7% and a swing of 15.8% from Labour.[4]

He is a speaker and strong supporter of Scottish Gaelic and Lowland Scots and holds a PhD on the latter. He authored the booklet Talking Independence, which sought to answer questions about Scottish independence, ranging from "What will I pay in tax?" to "Will I still be able to visit relatives in England?" and "Will we still get EastEnders?".

Allan voted against same-sex marriage in Scotland, saying he "favours the traditional definition of marriage" - in contrast to the position of the majority of the SNP government[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Salmond on brink of victory in SNP leadership battle
  2. ↑ BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Nationalists throw out rebel MSP
  3. ↑ Grant Thoms — SNP - Scottish National Party
  4. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/election2011/constituency/html/36124.stm
  5. ↑ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/11/19/scottish-education-minster-i-support-civil-partnerships-but-not-same-sex-marriage/

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by
Stewart Hosie		 National Secretary of the Scottish National Party
2003–2006 		Succeeded by
Duncan Ross
Scottish Parliament
Preceded by
Alasdair Morrison		 Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Western Isles
2007–present 		Incumbent


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