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Johann Lamont to stand down as Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont to stand down as Scottish Labour leader
(35 minutes later)
Johann Lamont is to stand down as leader of the Scottish Labour Party after accusing some of her colleagues of trying to run Scotland "like a branch office of London."Johann Lamont is to stand down as leader of the Scottish Labour Party after accusing some of her colleagues of trying to run Scotland "like a branch office of London."
Ms Lamont was elected as the party's leader in December 2011, having previously acted as its deputy leader. Ms Lamont also described some Labour MPs as "dinosaurs" who failed to recognise that "Scotland has changed forever after the referendum."
She was elected as the party's leader in December 2011.
Her resignation will be made with immediate effect.Her resignation will be made with immediate effect.
A Labour party source said Ms Lamont had "had enough" and felt she did not have the support of the UK party. A Scottish Labour party source said Ms Lamont had "had enough" and felt she did not have the support of the UK party.
Internal criticism
BBC Scotland understands that Ms Lamont has been unhappy for some time about the direction of party strategy.
She is said to have become disillusioned with internal criticism of her leadership and interference by the UK Labour party in the running of Scottish Labour.She is said to have become disillusioned with internal criticism of her leadership and interference by the UK Labour party in the running of Scottish Labour.
More autonomy Ms Lamont wanted more autonomy for the party in Scotland and significant new powers for the Scottish Parliament. She felt both of those objectives were being thwarted by some of her Westminster colleagues, accusing them of putting their own interests ahead of those of Scotland.
She was also unhappy that a senior official of the Scottish party - general secretary Ian Price - was to be removed from office without her being consulted.
Ms Lamont's deputy, Anas Sarwar MP, will take over the leadership on a temporary basis. An MSP will also be chosen to stand in for Ms Lamont at Holyrood until a successor is elected.Ms Lamont's deputy, Anas Sarwar MP, will take over the leadership on a temporary basis. An MSP will also be chosen to stand in for Ms Lamont at Holyrood until a successor is elected.
BBC Scotland understands that Ms Lamont has been unhappy for some time about the direction of party strategy. James Cook
In particular, she wanted more autonomy for the party in Scotland and significant new powers for the Scottish Parliament. She felt both of those objectives were being thwarted. BBC Scotland correspondent
It is also understood that Ms Lamont was unhappy that a senior official of the Scottish party was to be removed from office without her being consulted. The Daily Record is a newspaper which needs to be handled carefully tomorrow.
Speaking to the Daily Record newspaper, Ms Lamont accused some Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster of being too concerned about their own interests and failing to realise that the "focus of Scottish politics is now Holyrood, not Westminster." It is full of barbs and they are aimed at one man in particular, Ed Miliband.
She said: "I am standing down so that the debate our country demands can take place." Johann Lamont calls her colleagues at Westminster "dinosaurs" who "think nothing has changed".
She has been unhappy for some time, aware of the plotting, the whispering and the briefing against her.
But one event appears to have been the final straw: the dismissal by the UK party leadership of Scottish Labour's general secretary Ian Price without her knowledge, let alone her approval.
Of course Mrs Lamont has had her critics.
To many observers Scottish Labour still appears to be in a parlous state, seven years after losing power at Holyrood to the Scottish National Party.
But losing Scottish Parliamentary elections is one thing, losing general elections is quite another and if Mr Miliband didn't realise the full extent of his problems north of the border and the potential harm they could do to his prospects of becoming prime minister, then he surely does now.
In an interview published in Saturday's edition of the Daily Record newspaper, Ms Lamont accused some Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster of failing to realise that the "focus of Scottish politics is now Holyrood, not Westminster."
She said the new devolution settlement "must start with what is best for Scotland not what suits Westminster MPs."
And she added: "I am standing down so that the debate our country demands can take place."
She told the Daily Record: "Any leader whose general secretary can be removed by London without any consultation is in an untenable position.
"That has to change. The Scottish Labour Party must be a more autonomous party which works in partnership with the UK party.
"We must be allowed to make our own decisions and control our own resources."
Ms Lamont said she would back the new leader, whoever it may be.
She added: "I believe the Scottish Labour Party is a family - it is my family. And I hope it is led by someone who knows how to treat family members properly."
Ms Lamont, a former English teacher who joined the Labour Party as a teenager, has represented the Glasgow Pollok constituency at Holyrood since 1999.Ms Lamont, a former English teacher who joined the Labour Party as a teenager, has represented the Glasgow Pollok constituency at Holyrood since 1999.
She took over as the party's Scottish leader in the aftermath of the 2011 election, where Labour suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the SNP.She took over as the party's Scottish leader in the aftermath of the 2011 election, where Labour suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the SNP.
In the weeks after the independence referendum, she said she wanted to lead Labour to victory in the next Holyrood election in 2016 and become first minister despite increasing speculation that her leadership faced significant internal opposition.In the weeks after the independence referendum, she said she wanted to lead Labour to victory in the next Holyrood election in 2016 and become first minister despite increasing speculation that her leadership faced significant internal opposition.
A UK Labour party source said: "She realised it was time for a change in Scotland, she has put the party first.A UK Labour party source said: "She realised it was time for a change in Scotland, she has put the party first.
"Ed (Miliband) regards her as an honourable woman who has served the party well and we hope will serve the party again in the future.""Ed (Miliband) regards her as an honourable woman who has served the party well and we hope will serve the party again in the future."
Labour voters
Ms Lamont is the second Scottish party leader to resign following the referendum after First Minister Alex Salmond decided to step down from his role.Ms Lamont is the second Scottish party leader to resign following the referendum after First Minister Alex Salmond decided to step down from his role.
Mr Salmond will be replaced as first minister and SNP leader by deputy Nicola Sturgeon at their party conference in Perth next month, but it is much less clear who will replace Ms Lamont as Scottish Labour leader. 'In meltdown'
Mr Salmond will be replaced as first minister and SNP leader by deputy Nicola Sturgeon at their party conference in Perth next month, but it is much less clear who will succeed Ms Lamont as Scottish Labour leader.
Responding to Ms Lamont's resignation, Ms Sturgeon tweeted that she wished her well but added that if reports of divisions between the Scottish and UK Labour parties were accurate then "@scottishlabour really is in meltdown".
Green MSP Patrick Harvie, who is part of the Smith Commission discussing further devolution for Scotland, said: "I'd like to wish her well and express hope that those seeking change within the Scottish Labour Party can make progress.
"Scottish voters deserve to have the option of an effective Labour Party which can advocate the values and principles which its UK leadership has sadly long ago surrendered."
Earlier this week, two former Labour first ministers - Lord McConnell and Henry McLeish - suggested the party was in need of an overhaul.Earlier this week, two former Labour first ministers - Lord McConnell and Henry McLeish - suggested the party was in need of an overhaul.
Their comments came in the wake of many traditional Labour voters backing Scottish independence in last month's referendum.Their comments came in the wake of many traditional Labour voters backing Scottish independence in last month's referendum.
Lord McConnell, who was first minister between 2001 until 2007, said the party must "rediscover our sense of purpose, our vision for Scotland".Lord McConnell, who was first minister between 2001 until 2007, said the party must "rediscover our sense of purpose, our vision for Scotland".
His words echoed those of his predecessor Henry McLeish, who told the BBC: "There's no entitlement to a vote now. Labour has got to realise that every vote has got to be fought for."His words echoed those of his predecessor Henry McLeish, who told the BBC: "There's no entitlement to a vote now. Labour has got to realise that every vote has got to be fought for."
In a tweet sent after Ms Lamont's announcement, Lord McConnell said: "This is a truly astonishing development. Johann leaves with head held high. Outrageous treatment of Scottish Labour Party Leader."