It's true across the U.K. that those who had least to do with causing the economic crisis are carrying the heaviest burden. That's unacceptable.

- Johann Lamont

With the emergence of the Internet, it has become possible for creative and bold people with focus and determination to establish businesses in some of our remotest communities. But these will not work if they do not have reliable transport routes responding to the impatient modern customer.

- Johann Lamont

I'm pretty proud of having completed a marathon myself, so I can only imagine the pride that real athletes feel when they are picked for the Olympic or the Paralympic Games.

- Johann Lamont

While I'm leader, nothing will be off limits - there will not be one policy, one rule, one way of working which cannot be changed.

- Johann Lamont

What I will say will not always please you, but what I say will always be honest and true and how I genuinely see it.

- Johann Lamont

We must listen and learn, show humility and seek again to talk for and to people's ambitions and concerns.

- Johann Lamont

The test is can you do something, rather than have a theoretical argument - can you make a difference?

- Johann Lamont

The Scottish Labour Party, while I have breath in my body, will listen to the views of trade unionists.

- Johann Lamont

Telling the truth, and confronting the challenge, is what politics is about.

- Johann Lamont

My biggest ambition is to bring together what happens in the real world with what politicians talk about.

- Johann Lamont

Maybe I was just born to argue with men.

- Johann Lamont

Schools are not exam factories for the rat race.

- Johann Lamont

If I have learned one thing in life, it is never to take any man's own estimate of himself. He could very well be mistaken.

- Johann Lamont

I've taught fifth-year Christmas leavers last thing on a Friday afternoon. Basically, if you can face that you can face anything.

- Johann Lamont

I love hard political debate and I love beating somebody on a political point but what I'm more frustrated by is the politics where you play the man not the politics.

- Johann Lamont

We shall seek debate without division or rancour.

- Johann Lamont

My Scottish Labour Party is a crusade - to fight poverty, inequality and injustice.

- Johann Lamont

There is a circus around politics. But if you think it is a game, then you forget what the purpose of politics actually is.

- Johann Lamont

We will renew our party, to rebuild our land - and we will do it by being a better Labour, real Labour, Scottish Labour.

- Johann Lamont

My working life has always been wrapped up in doing my job to the best of my abilities and doing the best for my family. It is not a contest between the two.

- Johann Lamont