‘I have not read it yet’: Aberdeen council co-leaders dodge interview after landmark bus gate court ruling

Hours after the Court of Session ruled in favour of Aberdeen City Council in the long-run fight over the city centre bus gates, the SNP's Christian Allard was accused of "shooting himself in the foot".

Dec 10, 2025 - 06:38

‘I have not read it yet’: Aberdeen council co-leaders dodge interview after landmark bus gate court ruling

Council co-leaders Christian Allard, left, and Ian Yuill, right, on Union Street in April 2024. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson

Aberdeen’s beset SNP council co-leader Christian Allard has refused to comment on the crunch bus gate court ruling – as he’s not had time to read it.

The Press and Journal sought an interview with Mr Allard and his Lib Dem co-leader Ian Yuill on Tuesday, in light of the council’s victory at the Court of Session.

Judges ruled against long-serving west end retailer Norman Esslemont’s appeal, arguing the city council was within its rights to make the political decision to go against protesters and make the city centre bus gates permanent.

Afterward, an unnamed council spokeswoman said: “We look forward to continuing to work with businesses and communities to make the city centre an even better place.”

Norman Esslemont led the charge against the Aberdeen city centre bus gates at the Court of Session. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Council co-leader Allard: ‘I haven’t read the bus gate court judgment yet’

The court judgment was circulated to involved parties – Mr Esslemont and Aberdeen City Council – on Tuesday at 10am.

It was shared publicly at around 12 noon.

And by 3pm, when The P&J finally insisted on an interview, instead of a 32-word statement issued by council officials, Mr Allard had not yet read Lord Pentland’s verdict.

“I have not read the 20 pages from the judges yet, we have full council tomorrow with the opportunity to get Bon Accord Care back in-house,” he said in an email.

“Reassuring the staff, the people they care for and the wider community is what I am going to concentrate on, Alastair.”

When pressed, Mr Allard declined to tell us how he would win back the public after a damaging, years-long, campaign to have the bus gates removed.

The Torry and Ferryhill councillor, who will face a vote of no confidence in his co-leadership on Wednesday, also ignored our challenge to multi-task.

The P&J's Ben Hendry has the lowdown on the Aberdeen bus gate court ruling - which might help the council co-leader catch up. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson — The P&J’s Ben Hendry has the lowdown on the Aberdeen bus gate court ruling – which might help the council co-leader catch up. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

Don’t be like the council co-leader… Let Ben Hendry brief you on the Court of Session ruling

Liberal Democrat council co-leader ghosts The P&J on bus gate court judgment

Meanwhile, his Lib Dem counterpart Ian Yuill also declined to speak to us.

Around an hour and 10 minutes after those involved in the case were issued the judges’ ruling, he told The P&J that council communications would issue a statement when the judgment was shared with the public.

Business groups and owners have banded together behind the Aberdeen bus gate Common Sense Compromise. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson — Business groups and owners banded together behind the Aberdeen bus gate Common Sense Compromise. Image: Kami Thomson/DC Thomson

He ignored two further requests for interview, when we deemed the Aberdeen City Council line insufficient.

Its 32 words can be reduced to only 26, if you exclude the unnecessary “following the Court of Session’s decision”.

A spokeswoman said: “We look forward to continuing to work with businesses and communities to make the city centre an even better place to live, work, invest, and visit.”

Our interview would have invited the co-leaders to explain how they might look to achieve that, and how they might mend bridges with the many traders, residents and visitors who are looking to other destinations in light of the change in Aberdeen city centre.

‘More ammo’ ahead of council co-leader Allard’s vote of no confidence

On the eve of the vote on his future as council co-leader, the Tories accused Mr Allard of “shooting himself in the foot”.

Richard Brooks attended the bus gate hearing at the Court of Session. Image: Duncan McGlynn

Conservative group leader on the council, Richard Brooks, who called the court victory “pyrrhic” said: “If Councillor Allard is saying that he has not got the time to read the judgment or that it is not a priority, that says all the wrong things to the public.

“I am surprised because this is something so crucial to the city… it is such an obvious shot in his own foot. I don’t know how he keeps doing it.

“It does not inspire public confidence in the council’s decision-making or help with public perception. I am almost speechless.

“All he has done is give us even more ammunition ahead of the no confidence vote – he’s not coming across as competent.”

Why is Christian Allard facing a vote of no confidence?

The vote on Mr Allard’s co-leadership was called by fellow Conservative Michael Kusznir, who also serves the Torry and Ferryhill ward.

Aberdeen City Council co-leaders Christian Allard and Ian Yuill meeting Raac campaigners in Torry. Image: Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

He is accusing the SNP co-leader of a “lack of leadership” over the years-long misery suffered by owners of Raac-affected council-built housing in Balnagask.

Listing a pattern of blunders and a “failure to advocate for the people of Torry”, Mr Kusznir argues Mr Allard’s conduct is “incompatible with the responsibilities of leadership”.

[Source: Press and Journal]