The Co-operative Party

Johann Lamont, the Labour & Co-operative Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Pollok, has been elected as the first ever Leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

Johann, who was previously a minister and Deputy Leader of Labour in the Scottish Parliament, topped the poll of members, elected representatives and members of affiliates including the Co-operative Party. The Co-operative Party backed her in the contest.

In her victory speech in Edinburgh, Ms Lamont said: “I want to change Scotland, but the only way we can change Scotland is by changing the Scottish Labour Party. Our one test will be what is in the interest of the people of Scotland, not what’s in the interest of ourselves.

“I will reach out to people across Scotland who maybe never thought of themselves to be Labour, maybe not even thought themselves to be political, who share our values, and I’ll ask them to join our task.

“And we need to reach back into those communities who used to support us and win back the trust and reassure them that their faith in us will be repaid.”

Michael Stephenson, General Secretary of the Co-operative Party, commented on Johann’s election:

“We are delighted that Johann Lamont has been elected to lead the Scottish Labour Party. Johann has been a member of the Co-operative Party’s MSP group since 1999 and has done much to raise the profile of co-operative and mutual issues in Scotland. We know that Johann will continue listening and working with the movement in her new role and we look forward to working with her to develop a platform which will help carry the Labour Party to electoral victory.”