Christian Allard set to co-lead Aberdeen City Council after being voted as head of SNP group

Christian Allard is to be nominated for co-leader of Aberdeen City Council after being voted to lead the city’s SNP group.

The Torry and Ferryhill councillor is set to replace Alex Nicoll, who announced at the weekend that he would step down.

Aberdeen SNP members met on Monday for their AGM.

They unanimously voted Mr Allard as their new group leader, within a month of the 59-year-old surviving a confidence vote in his current council job.

The former MSP and MEP resisted calls to quit as anti-poverty convener as he was accused of having “more faces than the Town House clock”.

He prompted fury in March by backing funding cuts for the Big Noise Torry project, aimed at helping kids in the most deprived parts of his ward.

But on Monday, he stood uncontested to be named co-leader elect.

Tough at the top: Controversy around outgoing co-leader Nicoll

In their first year in charge, the SNP and Lib Dems have faced huge backlash for scything cuts: the ending of the Big Noise Torry funding, closing libraries and slashing sports funding.

The local authority now faces a court battle over the closure of Woodside Library and Bucksburn Swimming Pool. More legal action could follow.

On top of that, Mr Nicoll’s own councillors have reportedly been uneasy about the definitive stance their partnership has taken on the plans for a new Aberdeen FC stadium at the beach.

There have been a number of damaging leaks of internal communications, leaving Mr Nicoll red-faced.

Another episode saw emails revealing he refused a site visit to Union Terrace Gardens because he “doesn’t do hard hats”.

New Aberdeen City Council co-leader: What happens now?

But now, Christian Allard is now leader of the SNP group.

The French-born councillor will not be council co-leader until his nomination is confirmed by councillors.

A “delighted” Mr Allard said: “As we face the many difficult challenges ahead, I will remain focused on what I believe are the greatest of these, tackling poverty and establishing our city as a world leader in the fight against climate change.

“I am determined to build a more prosperous and fairer future for everyone in our city, and to make Aberdeen a better place to live, work and grow up.”

He also thanked Mr Nicoll for the “firm foundation” he was leaving behind.

The outgoing co-leader will continue in the top job until an urgent business meeting, expected next week.

Christian Allard to head up three-strong team in charge of Aberdeen SNP

The SNP group took charge at the Town House only a year ago, in coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

The nationalists secured 20 seats at the local elections in May 2022, adding one to their number.

Councillor Miranda Radley will continue as deputy group leader while council finance convener Alex McLellan was voted in as SNP group convener as well.

Mr Nicoll will continue on as a Kincorth, Nigg and Cove councillor after he steps down.

He said sharing the lead of the council had been “a real honour”.

Even with the recent controversy, Mr Allard is unlikely to face trouble in being confirmed.

The combined SNP and Liberal Democrat majority should see him over the line.

Leader votes have been unanimous in the past in any case.

However, the Conservatives were forced to withdraw their 2021 bid to have Ryan Houghton named as co-leader.

Meanwhile, one former council co-leader has rounded on the timing of the change.

North-east Conservative MSP Douglas Lumsden described it as “another distraction at a crucial time”.

“Huge things are afoot for Aberdeen and the leader of the council has just been removed,” he complained.