Alasdair James Allan was born on 6 May 1971 in Ashkirk to Christine and John H. Allan.[3] Allan graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MA in Scottish Language and Literature,continuing his studies at the University of Aberdeen,graduating with a PhD in Scots language in 1998.[4]
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 from the party after Martin had claimed that there was a case for supporters of independence not voting SNP.[7]
In the 2011 Scottish Parliament 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.[9]
In 2014,Allan voted against same-sex marriage in Scotland,saying "the view which so many of my constituents have expressed to me has a right to be recorded" –in contrast to the position of the majority of the SNP government.[11]
In May 2023,along with fellow Highlands MSPs Kate Forbes and Fergus Ewing,Allan rebelled against the SNP whip in a vote on the Scottish Government's plans to introduce Highly Protected Marin Areas (HPMAs) in Scotland,which would have restricted fishing access in certain areas.[13] In the debate on the motion Allan said that,while not a natural rebel,"I feel that I have little choice today but to apply some real pressure on behalf of my genuinely worried island constituents."[14]
In 2021,Allan wrote a book,Tweed Rins tae the Ocean (Tweed Runs to the Ocean),in response to claims made by former Conservative MP Rory Stewart that the Anglo-Scottish border was unnatural.[17] Allan walked the Border and recorded his travels,similar to what Stewart did for his book The Marches.[18]
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