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Alasdair Allan

Alasdair Allan
MSP
AlasdairAllanMSP20120530.jpg
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 (age 45)
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.

A native of Ashkirk, near Selkirk, Alasdair Allan attended Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities and devoted his time and employment to the Scottish National Party (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.

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. This move proved successful, as he was elected with 46.6% of the vote — a 5.4% swing from Labour.


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