Lamont is Scottish Labour leader

MSP Johann Lamont has been elected as the new Scottish Labour leader, pledging to \"make Labour Scotland\'s party once again\".The former Scottish minister, who had been seen as a frontrunner in the contest, beat off competition from MSP Ken Macintosh and MP Tom Harris.She replaces Iain Gray, who decided to quit the job after the SNP\'s landslide election victory in May.Meanwhile, MP Anas Sarwar was elected as deputy Scottish Labour leader.Mr Sarwar, who represents Glasgow Central, won the job over rivals Iain Davidson, also an MP, and MSP Lewis Macdonald.Ms Lamont, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, pledged to reconnect with disillusioned Labour voters.The 54-year-old former teacher also used her victory speech to tell the SNP to bring forward its independence referendum now, rather than in the second half of the parliament, saying: \"The waiting is holding Scotland back\".The role of Scottish Labour leader was beefed up in the wake of an internal review, meaning Ms Lamont takes charge of the whole of the party in Scotland.Previously, the job was limited to leading the Labour MSP group at Holyrood, but the change now effectively distances the party north of the border from Westminster.More than 300,000 people were asked to vote in the contest, including party and affiliated trade union members and other organisations.