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Johann Lamont

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Not to be confused with Johann von Lamont.
Johann Lamont
MSP
Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Assumed office
17 December 2011
DeputyAnas Sarwar
Preceded byIain Gray
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Glasgow Pollok
Assumed office
6 May 1999
Preceded byConstituency Created
Majority623 (2.3%)
Personal details
Born (1957-07-11) 11 July 1957 (age 67)
Glasgow, Scotland
Political partyLabour Co-operative
SpouseArchie Graham
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
ProfessionTeacher
Websitewww.johannlamontmsp.co.uk

Johann McDougal Lamont (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈdʒoʊæn læmʌnt/ JO-anne LAM-ont; born 11 July 1957) is a Scottish politician. She served as a junior minister in the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition Scottish Executive, from 2004 until the coalition's defeat in 2007, and was elected deputy leader of the opposition Labour Group of MSPs in 2008. Following the resignation of Iain Gray as leader of the Labour Group in the wake of the 2011 Scottish general election, and as a consequence of the Murphy-Boyack review, she was elected as the first overall leader of the Scottish Labour Party in December 2011.

Before entering politics Lamont worked as a teacher. She has been the Labour Co-operative Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Pollok since 1999.

Early life

Lamont was born in the Anderston district of Glasgow on 11 July 1957.[1] Both of her parents were Gaelic speakers from crofting families in Tiree, in Argyll.[2]

Lamont attended Woodside Secondary School.[3] She studied English and History at the University of Glasgow, graduating MA.[3] At Glasgow University, Lamont was active in the Labour Club, and in 1977 took part in the unsuccessful campaign to elect Hortensia Allende as rector.[4]

Lamont spent a year teacher training at Jordanhill College, during which she became a member of the National Committee of the National Organisation of Labour Students.[citation needed] She worked as a teacher for several years, at Rothesay Academy, Springburn Academy and Castlemilk High School.[citation needed]

A prominent internal figure on the pro-devolution wing of the party, publicly fronted by John Smith and Donald Dewar, Lamont was a Labour Party representative on the Scottish Constitutional Convention.[5] She was a member of the Scottish Executive Committee of the Labour Party, serving as Chair in 1994.

Career

MSP for Glasgow Pollok

In 1999 Lamont was elected to the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Pollok.[6] She held the seat in 2003, when she faced a strong challenge from Tommy Sheridan, and then again in 2007 and 2011. She became Deputy Minister for Communities in the Scottish Executive in October 2004, later becoming Deputy Minister for Justice in November 2006 until the 2007 election. Following the resignation of Cathy Jamieson in September 2008, she was elected Deputy Leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Labour leader

In the wake of Labour's defeat in the 2011 election and Iain Gray's resignation, she declared her candidacy for the election to the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party, with her campaign launched on 7 November at Stirling University. The result of the election was announced on 17 December 2011, showing that Lamont had won with 51.77% of the vote.[7] Following the review into the organisation of the Scottish Labour Party, Lamont was the first ever overall leader of the party in Scotland.

Political interests

On her profile for the Scottish parliament, Lamont claims that her political interests are focussed particularly on tackling poverty, women’s rights and the rights of disabled people and other groups who experience discrimination.[3]

Personal life

Lamont is married to Archie Graham, the Deputy Leader of Glasgow City Council and Labour councillor for Langside ward. Together they have two children.[8] They live in a large, semi-detached house in Courthill Avenue in Cathcart, Glasgow.

Lamont also claims she is a big fan of the television soap Coronation Street and she enjoys keeping fit by walking, jogging and dancing.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Johann Lamont". Scottish Labour. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  2. ^ "Johann Lamont - Personal Information". Current MSPs. The Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Personal Information - MSPs : Scottish Parliament". Scottish.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
  4. ^ "I will work with Eck; As Johann Lamont prepares to name her team to take on the Nats, she begins with a surprising admission". Daily Record. Trinity Mirror. 19 December 2011.
  5. ^ "She represented the Labour Party in the Scottish Constitutional Convention", Biography – Johann Lamont MSP – Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, on the Scottish Labour Party website
  6. ^ "Johann Lamont - MSPs". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Johann Lamont named new Scottish Labour leader". BBC News. BBC. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  8. ^ Braiden, Gerry (4 December 2010). "Labour's top talent in four-way fight to claim Purcell's old job". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
Scottish Parliament

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Party political offices

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