born july scottish politician leader served junior minister labour liberal democrat coalition coalition defeat subsequently elected deputy leader opposition labour group elected lead labour_party december announced resignation october following leadership election replace succeeded december born glasgow attended city obtained degree studying teaching qualifications active labour_party university days served chaired establishment legislature scotland elected labour operative member having appointed obtained ministerial role october decision stand labour_party leadership followed resignation leader wake party defeat scottish general election second consecutive defeat following review labour_party scotland structured overall leader equality issues violence women political career following announcement referendum scottish independence key figure better cross party movement sought scotland united_kingdom believes labour lost election lost direction initiated review scottish labour policy issues like party commitment free universal public services work won accolades scottish politician year awards political impact year parliamentary debates perceived commentators effective opponent minister including guardian criticised television interviews resigned labour leader october making announcement interview claimed senior figures labour_party undermined attempts reform scottish party treated like branch office london early life teaching career born district glasgow july parents speakers families island met moved glasgow carpenter employed scottish ferry operator working route took seamen strike family mother influenced faith american experiences public speakers listening mother took girl childhood divided glasgow mother family home brother david spent summer holidays attended having declined scholarship exams selective education like parents speaker believe spoke dropped school favour french german school developed interest politics entering daily_mirror competition politically themed short story tale central character discussed intention demand pay rise finally revealed queen won prize studied english history graduating joining labour_party active contemporary fellow labour politician involved women movement trained teacher year gaining education joined teacher taught academy glasgow glasgow taught english worked social workers educational attempting tackle instances school continuing active labour_party prominent issues related social justice equality voted referendum proposed establishment 1980s 1990s representative body paved way scottish decision said came strand left saw politics nationalism diversion central aims later came parliament vehicle democratic change scotland member labour_party serving chair labour activist decades sought election house_of_commons time telling bbc interview chances women elected westminster labour sent mps woman instead decision seek political office influenced creation speaking herald said easy forget great opportunity women determined women represented strong voice parliament established result referendum saw vote favour legislative powers scotland elected member held seat faced strong challenge leader maiden speech use sitting parliament served number parliament committees term office including labour rebel labour led administration threatened lead voting planned attempt block introduced resulted withdrawal amendment crucial parliamentary vote favour legislation session minister questions narrowly avoided ejected parliament continuing speak presiding officer told sit steel felt question youth crime long incident led heated parliamentary debate accusations colleague labour treating male female equally allegation rejected politics appointed march committee endorsed bill aimed behaviour included plans orders electronic youths age minister deputy minister communities scottish executive october post responsible launch radio television advertising campaign aimed domestic abuse aired christmas expressed concerns level discrimination faced travellers issue highlighted report november appointed deputy minister justice oversaw reforms scotland system held post labour defeated election appointed labour spokesperson communities sport post election team role retained shadow cabinet formed successor september following alexander decision step leader labour june subsequent resignation deputy stood fellow position vacated elected deputy leader september percent vote percent butler time elected lead labour group addition deputy leadership role appointed chief staff special responsibility post gave support plans introduce bill forced marriage announced september february criticised sunday herald quoted making controversial statement rape victim later welcomed subsequent resignation gray deputy represented labour minister questions absence session minister questions october raised issue deputy minister asking public body planned spend money improving school infrastructure election leader leadership election wake labour second defeat election saw form majority government gray announced intention step leader labour later year review chaired party structure scotland subsequently concluded leader lead entire previous leaders declared candidacy leadership election september launched campaign november told delegates labour needed electorate wanted govern listen learn seek talk people ambitions concerns real challenge labour lost way lost confidence lost scotland opponents leadership race fellow expressed need labour change win election harris campaign centred belief labour establish party risk felt party heavily traditional support paying attention rural communities suggested increasing government help tackle unemployment young people wanted rail bus services result election announced december saw secure overall majority vote round closest rival harris won groups labour tier electoral college system securing support affiliated bodies trade unions backed majority individual party members acceptance speech told party activists change win chance serve people scotland scotland know day elected position deputy vacated shadow cabinet began appointing members shadow cabinet december given positions initial team include shadow cabinet secretary finance labour spokesman education shadow justice minister post shadow health minister given held position previously gray included expressed wish break politics announced major labour team june gray returned replace party finance spokesman appointed chief whip previous role shadow justice minister given moved welfare kept role local government planning speaking said great deal progress months moving forward months office gave post election interview politics scotland december speaking huge challenge rebuilding public trust scottish labour election defeat previous general decline support preceding decade party losses failure engage electorate told programme labour needed speak interests scottish people accept powers attending session minister questions labour leader december addressed issue child neglect following conviction glasgow woman murder son asking lessons learned case january prepared referendum scottish independence spoke defence scotland position united_kingdom minister claimed country equal partner union respective leaders scottish conservatives scottish liberal democrats deputy minister added signature february letter urging decline application stage march city group far right subsequently withdrew application static demonstration held instead gave conference speech party leader conference march setting agenda rebuilding confidence party later month welcomed passing scotland bill powers scotland accordance recommendations praising important development participated scottish parliament debate paying tribute celebrated commented years job good going months days feels like years recognise scale achievement particular strong woman guest june edition bbc political debate programme standing polls poll conducted december took control scottish labour indicated party approval rating half survey organisation june showed improvement labour nationalists poll indicated personal approval rating compared poll conducted behalf september indicated respondents satisfied labour performance compared survey found personal approval rating poll december showed labour overtaken terms personal approval compared minister poll issue scottish independence conducted december gave approval rating women men compared respectively respondents survey unaware role scottish labour leader figure rising aged local elections elections launched labour local election campaign edinburgh april setting policies creating employment training opportunities improvements education claiming passed percent spending cuts imposed compared nationalists businessman criticised role financial collapse saying putting charge council like putting charge tax return retaining control labour facing strong challenge party key objectives polls political academic writing guardian observed undoubtedly doubts right woman job election triggered resignation wake conviction accounts domestic abuse eve poll daily_telegraph described election labour afford lose personal prestige candidate simply win labour won seat swing percent majority said result reflected progress said results repeated scotland majority party election labour increased support elections election june held death labour reduced majority election held following death labour campaign fought issues education employment care elderly saw labour increase share vote percent swing majority scottish independence enhanced prominent figure cross party political movement founded scotland united_kingdom following announcement referendum scottish independence outspoken opposition scottish independence speech labour conference brighton accuse hostility scotland rest describing nationalism virus affected nations harm favour greater powers established commission look achieved referendum better campaign taking office labour leader december urged minister set date referendum arguing leadership acceptance speech uncertainty referendum timeline having negative impact scotland january announced late preferred time referendum scottish government confirmed referendum question january announced march referendum held september told scottish labour annual conference wanted party campaign collective leadership independence strategy envisaged cross party movement arguing case keeping scotland conference weeks later party leader called opponents work fronted government minister launched event attended senior scottish political figures edinburgh june british prime minister senior scottish labour figures launched party pro union campaign united labour published scotland future white paper setting vision independent scotland november dismissed pages assertion uncertainty addressing shadow cabinet labour leader january warned scots vote independence believed labour unlikely win general election opinion polls showed increase support yes campaign referendum approached september set plans greater powers event vote joined giving backing proposals following day dismissed previous promises prime minister opposition leader cancelled appearance prime minister questions travel scotland campaign vote september scotland voted reject independence majority announced intention resign minister leader september shortly result referendum confirmed paid tribute describing immense figure scottish political history chosen succeed leader october march announced intention establish commission examine prospect fully scottish government power decisions policies relating issues welfare benefits income tax corporation tax effectively making fully self governing region united_kingdom commission chaired including politicians academics trade union members met time october published interim report april recommending scotland autonomy income tax leaving decisions corporation tax welfare parliament party members opposed warning plans threaten formula financial mechanism scotland receives annual average head government spending rest chair said proposals affect spending poorer areas subsequently warned responsibility income tax reduce scottish tax base result independence default claim called highly income tax makes taxes collected commission final report powers purpose published march setting recommendations implemented scotland voted referendum labour elected proposals included allowing raise annual revenue giving greater vary income tax rates rest plans build powers scotland act increase responsibility taxation exchange reduction grant received westminster commission recommended responsibility fiscal areas payment possible levy mansion tax scotland decided taking charge financial matters including state north_sea oil proposals retain formula scotland control railways transfer authority parliament holding elections westminster described proposals right balance fiscal risk chair cross party think tank argued plans current system allow parties aren interested real deputy minister welcomed prospect increased said vote independence way ensure greater powers scotland guarantee new powers delivered event vote proposals subsequently endorsed delegates party conference free public services debate september announced policy review scotland universal benefits signalling future labour administration reverse free services introduced power scotland launching review address party delegates edinburgh questioned services tuition fees free scotland continue available regardless income suggested situation believe resources greatest need cynical trick people believe free paying tax breaks rich scotland country world speech condemned branded deputy party leader called strategy disastrous approach questioned guardian suggested damage labour electoral appeal outside scotland policy merely gift arguments welfare cuts scotland reminds labour voters defected defensive shield policies independent suggested political strategy right returned issue universal tuition fees speech glasgow december mark anniversary election labour leader suggested system abolished reinstated labour elected scottish parliamentary election retired college principal welcomed comments courageous member expressed concerns students discouraged extra financial costs loans expenses january scottish labour faced criticism party voted motion included introduction free school meals pupils years primary education commitment pre school children motion contained measures implemented event scottish independence labour said support recalling experience teaching children told parliament free school meals priority unsuccessful amendment calling greater provisions instead motion later passed majority daily_telegraph wrote strategy allowed claim labour opposed principle free school meals fell bit business managers seen coming mile candidate selection row dispute labour launched separate investigations claims officials unite union signed members labour preferred candidate adopted represent party constituency union officials later cleared wrongdoing later claimed key evidence thought retracted withdrawn prompting urge publish details party internal inquiry hold fresh investigation november edition said case fresh inquiry labour publish details internal investigations later day labour said reopening investigation subsequently said new investigation unnecessary december karen selected contest seat report labour inquiry leaked media february concluded doubt unite attempted manipulate selection process october faced criticism reaction industrial dispute oil company operates plant stated making financial losses proposed survival plan requiring employees accept worse employment terms notably changes work rules generous employees rejected company plant threatening close terms accepted urged withdraw conditions sides hold talks tried negotiate agreement union officials eventually agreed strike years plant reopened chairman described support trade unions dispute deeply irresponsible claimed silent disagreement writing suggested labour leader silence probably continuing selection row ultimately found wanting resignation scotland voted small majority independence referendum returned yes votes traditional labour strongholds particularly glasgow prompting media speculation future party leader shortly referendum daily_mail article claimed shadow international development secretary lined herald reported party delegates concerned results started view murphy possible successor attempted rumours leadership challenge september session minister questions post referendum era minister long gone job behalf people scotland position remained uncertain wrote labour mps scotland feared losing seats general election change leadership october ministers voiced concern direction party expressed fears labour experience increased difficulty regaining confidence scottish voters following election leader described party political machine angry happened scotland recent past shortly predecessor suggested labour ceded enormous ground supporters longer understood party stands shadow secretary state scotland said party changing needed socialist principles resignation labour leader reported media outlets evening october following publication interview announced intention step immediate effect told newspaper resigning labour westminster leadership undermined attempts reform party scotland treated scottish labour like branch office london described london based colleagues unable understand scotland changed forever following referendum angry consulted matters decision leadership replace general secretary letter resignation submitted chairman accused senior members party questioning role said taking equation allow scottish labour discussion best way forward labour acting leader october following meeting party executive committee outlined details leadership election held tier electoral college conclude announcement new leader december murphy stood subsequent contest murphy elected successor vote murphy election instead chose rivals paid tribute shortly announced intended relinquish leadership role saying led determination indicated sudden departure following weeks speculation implications leadership said chance prime minister affected labour returned fewer scottish mps called problem historic epic proportions said angry suggested questions answer circumstances surrounding resignation echoed views predecessor arguing answering questions labour scotland run extension westminster office effectively forced resignation labour leader scotland shadow chancellor rejected claims labour treatment scottish counterpart claimed supporters murphy subsequently announced intention stand leadership contest succeed conducted campaign suggested right party resented election leader ignored treating post leadership labour went suffer significant losses general election election glasgow party traditionally enjoyed strong support elections produced result labour held constituency lost conservatives overtook labour second largest party lost seat secured majority labour candidates elected glasgow regional list joined response results suggested labour needed understand reasons suggested referendum partially responsible bit think referendum yes divide people minds politics taxation investing public services low tax economy politics views criticised politicians taking stance public services guardian described rooted older labour party values deep commitment politics heavily influenced inner city upbringing career teaching childhood experience addressed emotional speech delegates saw upbringing beauty land felt warmth community brutality times trying living privilege grow family love mother reminded ate wore lived product sweat father earned sea respected career campaigned issues equality violence women profile website lists political interests poverty women rights disability issues credits work author helping understanding women issues march led debate discussed increased opportunities available women scotland highlighting issues felt needed addressed minister questions highlighted personal stories members public believing bring element real life parliament opposition leaders signed equal marriage pledge favour sex marriage january voted favour february background spoken belief importance providing support language feeling economic benefit scotland death december joined public figures paying tribute describing south african president figure life politically aware said labour lost election party lost direction having failed recognise result defeat picked wrong signals general election saw strong scottish labour vote westminster february told general election thinking confirmation scotland labour country probably confirmation scotland anti issue rebuilding trust confidence values brought politics told delegates party scottish conference time stop past mistakes know happened looked tired got kind beating deserved need start building kind scotland deserves scotland needs interview scotland sunday september signalled support creation land tax reforms local taxation suggesting council tax freeze introduced resulted funding annual conference outlined plans establish workers charter saying work government achieve media image inaugural session minister questions december bbc called performance confident direct suggested emerged prevailing force weekly debates writing obvious time cheap seats got measure guardian quotes unnamed political observer said getting skin like predecessor writing scottish labour gathered conference april felt tenure party leader successful citing labour local election achievements weekly exchanges minister questions examples labour respectable laughing stock ravaged party emerged heavy defeat media appearances criticised september guardian described lines interview reporter following announcement labour public service policy review cites interview repeatedly questioned views programme describes person articulate reflective self times funny unfair condemn sound bite politician ought applauded trouble live sound bite age rhodes magazine writes despite reputation bit fierce actually entertaining engaging wonderfully self bbc describes quietly spoken humorous person comes television described passionate low public recognition indicated december poll led herald columnist label invisible woman independence debate suggest needed raise profile edition annual comedy excuse featuring sketch debates scottish independence awards decision question status quo availability free public services earned political impact year award herald scottish politician year awards nominated politician year ceremony beaten deputy minister awards winner year award weekly exchanges minister questions personal life married deputy leader labour councillor ward children fan television soap coronation street likes fit walking dancing keen runner completed long distance races
Johann Lamont