Mo Mowlam

Political career

Having failed to win selection in the previous election (1983), she was selected as Labour candidate for the safe seat of Redcar after James Tinn stood down. She then took the seat in the 1987 general election. She became opposition spokesperson on Northern Ireland in that year. Subsequently, she held a variety of posts and was made Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 1994 by Tony Blair. She initially resisted being appointed to the position, preferring a domestic economic portfolio, but after accepting it, threw her weight into the job.

Related Topics:
(1983) - Redcar - James Tinn - 1987 general election - Northern Ireland - Shadow Secretary of State - 1994

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She had been a principal organiser, alongside Peter Kilfoyle, of Blair's campaign for the Labour leadership following the death of John Smith (UK politician). As a member of Smith's shadow cabinet (Shadow Secretary of State for National Heritage) she had earlier courted controversy by calling for Buckingham Palace to be demolished (so antagonising monarchists) and replaced by a 'modern' palace built at public expense (so antagonising republicans). Later her willingness to speak her mind - often without regard to the consequences - was seen as her greatest strength by her supporters and her greatest weakness by critics.

Related Topics:
Peter Kilfoyle - John Smith (UK politician) - Shadow Secretary of State - National Heritage - Buckingham Palace

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After the 1997 General Election she was made Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the first and currently the only woman to hold the post. She was successful in helping to restore an IRA ceasefire, and including Sinn Féin in the multi-party talks. She also paid a visit to loyalist prisoners in the Maze prison in an attempt to get the loyalists to sign up to the peace process. She saw the Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998, which led to the temporary establishment of a devolved power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly. However, an increasingly difficult relationship with Unionist parties meant her role in the talks had been increasingly taken over by Tony Blair and his staff, prompting Mowlam to remark on one occasion (to Bill Clinton) "Didn't you know? I'm the new tea lady around here"{{ref|tealady}}.

Related Topics:
1997 General Election - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - IRA - Sinn Féin - Maze prison - Good Friday Agreement - 1998 - Northern Ireland Assembly - Bill Clinton

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Whilst her deteriorated relationship with Unionists was the key reason{{ref|replacement}} she was replaced as Northern Ireland Secretary in October 1999 by Peter Mandelson, her move to the relatively lowly position of Cabinet Office Minister may have involved other factors, notably her health and her popularity. Mowlam had previously denounced the post as "Minister for the Today programme"), and resented being appointed to it. As Cabinet Office Minister she was reportedly intended as Tony Blair's "Enforcer". She was head of the Government's anti-drugs campaign and attracted media attention when in 2000 she admitted to trying cannabis as a student ("I tried dope. I didn't particularly like it. But unlike President Clinton, I did inhale".) {{ref|cannabis}}.

Related Topics:
1999 - Peter Mandelson - Cabinet Office Minister - Today programme - 2000 - Cannabis

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In early 2000 she (it is suggested in person) briefed the press that she was bored with her job and wanted to be Labour candidate for the post of Mayor of London. The stories were widely seen as damaging to Frank Dobson, the official Labour candidate, who was already facing serious difficulties in his campaign against Ken Livingstone, a popular but maverick politician who left Labour to stand as an independent for the post after his selection as official Labour candidate had been blocked. Mowlam's supporters briefed she was the only figure with sufficient popularity to challenge Livingstone, but the episode did nothing for either the Labour Party or Mowlam.

Related Topics:
Mayor of London - Frank Dobson - Ken Livingstone

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Later in 2000 she announced her intention to retire from Parliament, relinquishing her seat at the 2001 election{{ref|retirement}}. Her statement of intent was forced on her by Downing Street following a series of stories in the paper suggesting she was looking for an excuse to leave the government.

Related Topics:
2000 - Parliament - 2001 election

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After retirement from the House of Commons she became a noted critic of government policy on various issues, especially foreign policy towards Iraq.

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She continued public activity after retirement, becoming agony aunt for the men's magazine Zoo, saying that she missed her constituency work as an MP. She also set up a charity, MoMo Help, to help rehabilitate drug users and provide support for the parents of disabled children.

Related Topics:
Agony aunt - Zoo - Charity - MoMo Help

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Her political memoirs, entitled Momentum, were published in 2002.

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