In the wake of Labour's defeat in the 2011 election and Iain Gray's resignation, she declared her candidacy for the election to the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party, with her campaign launched on 7 November at Stirling University.
In the wake of Labour's defeat in the Scottish Parliament election of May 2011, Iain Gray announced his intention to step down as leader of the Party's group of MSPs. Lamont subsequently declared her candidacy for the election to the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party, with her campaign launched on 7 November at Stirling University.