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Gray becomes Scots Labour leader | |
(1 day later) | |
Iain Gray has been elected as the new Scottish Labour leader, the party has announced. | Iain Gray has been elected as the new Scottish Labour leader, the party has announced. |
The former Scottish enterprise minister beat off competition from Andy Kerr and Cathy Jamieson, who also served in previous Scottish Government cabinets. | The former Scottish enterprise minister beat off competition from Andy Kerr and Cathy Jamieson, who also served in previous Scottish Government cabinets. |
Mr Gray, the MSP for East Lothian, will take over from Wendy Alexander, who resigned from the leadership in June. | Mr Gray, the MSP for East Lothian, will take over from Wendy Alexander, who resigned from the leadership in June. |
MSP Johann Lamont was chosen as Mr Gray's deputy. Parliamentarians, party members and unions voted. | MSP Johann Lamont was chosen as Mr Gray's deputy. Parliamentarians, party members and unions voted. |
Mr Gray said Labour, which lost last year's Scottish Parliament elections, was going through a difficult period. | Mr Gray said Labour, which lost last year's Scottish Parliament elections, was going through a difficult period. |
He said: "This election is the beginning of a new conviction in Scottish Labour, united around our shared values and moving forward with common purpose. | He said: "This election is the beginning of a new conviction in Scottish Labour, united around our shared values and moving forward with common purpose. |
"Labour is best when we look outwards and align our values with the people's aspirations. Not just listening but hearing." | "Labour is best when we look outwards and align our values with the people's aspirations. Not just listening but hearing." |
Mr Gray promised a "fresh start" for the party. | Mr Gray promised a "fresh start" for the party. |
Scotland needs a first minister whose passion is lifting people up Iain Gray Profile: Iain GrayIn quotes: ReactionIn full: acceptance speech href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/briantaylor/2008/09/tavishs_tactical_tax_tester.html">Brian Taylor's blog | |
"It is time to close the manifesto on which we fought the 2007 Scottish election and time to write our programme for Scotland for 2011 and beyond," he said. | "It is time to close the manifesto on which we fought the 2007 Scottish election and time to write our programme for Scotland for 2011 and beyond," he said. |
He said a senior colleague would be given the job of developing policy which was in line with Labour values but in touch with the wider Scotland. | He said a senior colleague would be given the job of developing policy which was in line with Labour values but in touch with the wider Scotland. |
This would include reform of the council tax to make it fairer while still protecting local services, he said. | This would include reform of the council tax to make it fairer while still protecting local services, he said. |
Mr Gray said lessons from the by-election loss of Glasgow East to the SNP would be learnt and written into "every line" of Labour's programme for winning in 2011. | Mr Gray said lessons from the by-election loss of Glasgow East to the SNP would be learnt and written into "every line" of Labour's programme for winning in 2011. |
His victory speech also contained a savage attack on SNP First Minister Alex Salmond, whose background the new Labour leader contrasted with his own. | His victory speech also contained a savage attack on SNP First Minister Alex Salmond, whose background the new Labour leader contrasted with his own. |
"When Alex Salmond was an official in the Scottish Office I was learning to be a teacher in a tough school and a community activist in the biggest council housing scheme in Edinburgh," said Mr Gray. | "When Alex Salmond was an official in the Scottish Office I was learning to be a teacher in a tough school and a community activist in the biggest council housing scheme in Edinburgh," said Mr Gray. |
"While he moved to the Royal Bank of Scotland I moved to Mozambique where I taught for two years in a country literally fighting for its life. | "While he moved to the Royal Bank of Scotland I moved to Mozambique where I taught for two years in a country literally fighting for its life. |
"While he spent the eighties and nineties developing the tricks of politics in Westminster, I spent them developing my values working for Oxfam." | "While he spent the eighties and nineties developing the tricks of politics in Westminster, I spent them developing my values working for Oxfam." |
Johann Lamont becomes Scottish Labour's deputy leaderMr Gray said: "We don't need a first minister whose pride is putting people down. | Johann Lamont becomes Scottish Labour's deputy leaderMr Gray said: "We don't need a first minister whose pride is putting people down. |
"Scotland needs a first minister whose passion is lifting people up." | "Scotland needs a first minister whose passion is lifting people up." |
Mr Gray won the leadership despite only returning to Holyrood in the 2007 election. | Mr Gray won the leadership despite only returning to Holyrood in the 2007 election. |
He served as enterprise minister in the first Scottish Parliament before losing his Edinburgh Pentlands seat to the Tories' David McLetchie in 2003. | He served as enterprise minister in the first Scottish Parliament before losing his Edinburgh Pentlands seat to the Tories' David McLetchie in 2003. |
In the fight for the post - technically leader of the Scottish Parliament Labour group - no candidate achieved 50% of the votes in the first round. | In the fight for the post - technically leader of the Scottish Parliament Labour group - no candidate achieved 50% of the votes in the first round. |
The lowest rating candidate, Andy Kerr, was eliminated at that point and his supporters preferential votes were then redistributed to the two remaining candidates. | The lowest rating candidate, Andy Kerr, was eliminated at that point and his supporters preferential votes were then redistributed to the two remaining candidates. |
That gave Mr Gray victory by a margin of 57.79% to 42.21%. | That gave Mr Gray victory by a margin of 57.79% to 42.21%. |
Johann Lamont defeated fellow MSP Bill Butler by 60.18% to 39.82% in the battle for the deputy leadership. | Johann Lamont defeated fellow MSP Bill Butler by 60.18% to 39.82% in the battle for the deputy leadership. |