This article is about the Scottish politician. For the astronomer and physicist, see Johann von Lamont.
Scottish Labour politician
Johann Lamont
Lamont in 2019
Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
In office 17 December 2011 – 24 October 2014
Deputy
Anas Sarwar
UK party leader
Ed Miliband
Preceded by
Iain Gray
Succeeded by
Jim Murphy
Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
In office 13 September 2008 – 17 December 2011
Leader
Iain Gray
Preceded by
Cathy Jamieson
Succeeded by
Anas Sarwar
Parliamentary offices
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow (1 of 7 Regional MSPs)
In office 5 May 2016 – 5 May 2021
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Pollok
In office 6 May 1999 – 5 May 2016
Preceded by
Constituency established
Succeeded by
Humza Yousaf
Personal details
Born
Johann MacDougall Lamont
(1957-07-11) 11 July 1957 (age 66) Glasgow, Scotland
Political party
Scottish Labour Co-operative
Spouse
Archie Graham
Children
2
Education
Woodside Secondary School
Alma mater
University of Glasgow Jordanhill College
Profession
Teacher
Johann MacDougall Lamont (/ˈdʒoʊænlæmʌnt/; born 11 July 1957) is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2011 to 2014. She was previously a junior Scottish Executive minister from 2004 to 2007 and Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party from 2008 until her election to the leadership in 2011. In addition to her ministerial and leadership roles, she has been a campaigner on equality issues and violence against women throughout her political career.
Born in Glasgow, Lamont attended Woodside Secondary School and obtained a degree from the University of Glasgow. After studying for teaching qualifications at Jordanhill College, she became a schoolteacher. Active in the Labour Party since she was at university, Lamont served on its Scottish Executive Committee, and chaired it in 1993. With the establishment of a devolved legislature in Scotland, she was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow Pollok in 1999. Having been appointed convener of the Scottish Parliament's Social Justice Committee in 2001, she obtained her first ministerial role in a Labour–Liberal Democrat coalition in October 2004 and served until its defeat by the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2007.
Lamont stood for the Scottish Labour leadership following the resignation of Iain Gray in the wake of the party's defeat at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election; its second consecutive defeat. Following a review of how the Labour Party in Scotland would be structured, she became its first overall leader. She stated Labour lost the 2011 election because it had lost direction, and initiated a review of Scottish Labour policy on issues like devolution and the party's commitment to free universal public services. Following the SNP Government's announcement of a referendum on Scottish independence, she was a key figure in the Better Together campaign; a cross-party movement that sought to keep Scotland part of the United Kingdom. She resigned as Scottish Labour leader in October 2014, making the announcement in a Daily Record interview in which she claimed that senior figures within the UK Labour Party had undermined her attempts to reform the Scottish party, and treated it "like a branch office of London". Following a leadership election to replace her, she was succeeded in December 2014 by former Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy.
Lamont's work as Scottish Labour leader won her accolades at the Scottish Politician of the Year Awards, for Political Impact of the Year in 2012 and Debater of the Year in 2013. In parliamentary debates, she was perceived by commentators such as The Scotsman's Andrew Whitaker as being an effective opponent to First Minister Alex Salmond, but others, including Richard Seymour of The Guardian, criticised her for clumsiness during television interviews.
Johann MacDougall Lamont (/ˈdʒoʊæn læmʌnt/; born 11 July 1957) is a Scottish Labour Co-operative politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Labour...
Johann von Lamont, FRSE (13 December 1805 – 6 August 1879), born John Lamont, was a Scottish-German astronomer and physicist. Lamont was born at Corriemulzie...
stay in the United Kingdom. The Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, JohannLamont, resigned from the position on 25 October 2014, criticising the attitude...
for Glasgow Pollok Incumbent Assumed office 5 May 2016 Preceded by JohannLamont Majority 7,105 (21.0%) Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow...
the post in December 2011 following the election of JohannLamont as Gray's successor. When Lamont announced a major shakeup of the Labour frontbench team...
leader". bbc.co.uk. 13 September 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2010. "JohannLamont named new Scottish Labour leader". BBC News. 17 December 2011. "MP Jim...
Johann Andreas Kuhnau [scores] (1703–1761), nephew of the preceding, a pupil of Bach Johann Lafer (born 1957), Austrian television chef JohannLamont...
Running concurrently was a deputy leadership election, triggered by JohannLamont's decision to run in the leadership election. The leader of the Keep...
December 2011, JohannLamont MSP was elected as leader and Anas Sarwar MP was elected as her deputy. Delivering her victory speech, Lamont said: "I want...
webarchive.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. "JohannLamont in Scottish Labour front bench shake-up". BBC News. 28 June 2013. Archived...
the original on 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020. Lamont, Johann [@JohannLamont] (4 March 2021). "I am definitely standing down. Wiki notwithstanding...
additional 100,000 women returning to work. Scottish Labour leader JohannLamont said that the policy should be implemented immediately if the Scottish...
after the result, but remained in post as leader until his successor, JohannLamont, took over on 17 December 2011. Due to his experience, Gray was appointed...
announced". LabourList. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2021. "JohannLamont in Scottish Labour front bench shake-up". BBC News. 28 June 2013. Retrieved...
Scottish Labour Party, following the resignations of JohannLamont as leader and Anas Sarwar as deputy. Lamont announced her decision in an interview with the...
John Mann, John Denham, Mark Lazarowicz and Margaret Curran, and MSPs JohannLamont and Sarah Boyack. Many of those involved in Clause Four subsequently...
Renfrewshire. In the ensuing leadership election, Macintosh came second to MSP JohannLamont. Following Scottish Labour's near wipeout at the 2015 general election...
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. Following JohannLamont's resignation, Murphy was elected Leader of the Scottish Labour Party...
office 17 May 2007 – 20 May 2011 First Minister Alex Salmond Preceded by JohannLamont Succeeded by Roseanna Cunningham Member of the Scottish Parliament for...
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