Mo Mowlam dies aged 55

Former Northern Ireland Secretary of State Mo Mowlam has died at the age of 55.

She was recently released from hospital into a hospice in Kent to be closer to her family. However, while hospital officials had refused to confirm whether her condition was connected to her previous brain tumour, her health had seriously deteriorated.

Labour MP for Redcar between 1987-2001, Mo Mowlam will be best remembered for her role in Northern Ireland and overseeing the negotiations and signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Local politicians today commented on her positive role in the peace process, albeit conducted with an eccentric style, that notably led to a standing ovation at a Labour Party conference during a speech by Tony Blair.

Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said Mo Mowlam played a crucial role in the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement and that it would be remembered as her political legacy.

“There were, of course, occasions when we clashed, most notably when she caved in to Orange Order threats and forced an Orange march along the Garvaghy Road in Portadown and when she authorised the bugging of a car used by Gerry Adams and myself during the negotiations,” Mr McGuinness said.

“However, Mo Mowlam will be remembered fondly by the vast majority of Irish people and I would extend my thoughts and sympathies to her husband Jon and the rest of her family at this time.”

DUP MP for Lagan Valley Jeffrey Donaldson said his introduction to the Watford born woman was to see her “feet up on the table and resting back on the chair” within minutes of arriving at unionist headquarters in Belfast for the first time.

“I suppose we in Northern Ireland had been used to secretaries of state who sometimes adopted a very patrician, almost colonial style, approach to Northern Ireland - a kind of governor approach,” Mr Donaldson said.

“And yet here was someone who had a very different style - very laid back, very easy manner, easy to talk to. And while of course we had many differences with Mo Mowlam, certainly she was someone who left an indelible mark on the politics of Northern Ireland.”

Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said she had a rapport with the general public which was “real” and not stuffy.

“It was clear when you were with her over a long period of time, as the day wore on, her stamina wasn't what it might have been,” Sir Reg said.

“I think we underestimated the degree to which she was suffering at that stage.

“I think though that's one of the reasons why she was so popular with the general public - she wasn't the archetypal Whitehall politician.”

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Mo Mowlam had a natural feel for Northern Ireland.

“She had a strong sense of what needed to be done to get things moving fully again and she followed through on that,” the Foyle MP said.

“We all talk about her buzz and her touchy feely approach. She didn't take herself seriously but she took her responsibility seriously.”

Current Secretary of State Peter Hain said he had spoken to his predecessor to convey the news that the IRA was standing down.

“I spoke to her only three weeks ago after the IRA statement and she told me how significant it was,” Mr Hain said. “Her selfless contribution was widely recognised by politicians in Northern Ireland and beyond. At her heart was a desire to make a difference to people and their lives.

“She worked hard to be as inclusive as possible and encouraged those who were at the edge of society and politics to become involved to change things for the better.

“I firmly believe that Northern Ireland is a better place for Mo Mowlam having been there.”

However, effectively sidelined by the Prime Ministerial involvement in the final negotations held prior to the Good Friday Agreement, Mo Mowlam was replaced as Northern Ireland Secretary of State by Peter Mandelson.

In 2000 she announced her intention to retire from Parliament, relinquishing her seat at the 2001 election.

(MB/SP)