The Times
Saturday 20 August 2005

All who were in touch with Mo Mowlam knew that she had not been well for some time. But it is still a terrible shock that she is dead at the age of only 55. It was her bravery in coping with her brain tumour in 1996-97 that first endeared Mo to so many people. It’s terrible now to think that it was probably the treatment for her tumour that lead to her recent suffering and untimely death.

Mo was a physically beautiful woman. And she enjoyed her beauty, so that even when ill-health had ravaged her looks she always retained her sparkle. She was also mischievous and loving, tactile and prone to using strong expletives. She was intellectually able but did not parade her intelligence; and was therefore sometimes underestimated.

Mo had strong ideological views but she was also a pragmatist. She was deeply committed to the Labour movement — the party, the trade unions and its history of fighting for peace, internationalism and social justice. She strongly supported Neil Kinnock’s reforms and backed Tony Blair for the leadership in 1994 when John Smith died. She did not get on with Gordon Brown for reasons I did not really understand; she was also one of the many people who were not fans of Peter Mandelson.

Mo was honoured to serve as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and devoted to the peace process. Tales of her throwing her wig off at moments of frustration increased people’s admiration and affection for her. Her informal style reached out beyond the circles of traditional secretaries of state. Her visit to the Maze to talk to loyalist prisoners to prevent them blocking progress was a public example of her willingness to take risks and treat with respect those who were normally excluded from politics. It is impossible to judge yet the exact contribution that individuals brought but Mo’s warmth and human skills created the best possible space for progress towards the Good Friday agreement. She is still deeply loved in Ireland both for herself and her contribution in helping to bring to an end the long tradition of physical force in Irish politics.

It is of course right in such an important area of policy that the Prime Minister should be fully involved but it is hard not to conclude that, when the Blair entourage realised there was glory and popularity to be gained, they started to edge Mo to one side. And this was when things started to go wrong. The Blair machine began to brief the media that Mo was to be moved from Northern Ireland. She resisted and because of her popularity the Blair machine had to submit but the briefing became more unpleasant and her attempts to counter it simply generated more. This hurt her deeply.

She was keen to move to a job in foreign policy but the Prime Minister wanted her to stand for the London mayoralty. Instead, she eventually agreed to become Minister for the Cabinet Office. She worked on GM crop consultations and on drug addiction issues, but there wasn’t a real job to be done and her bond with the Blairites was broken. The results of the tension became physically evident in her shoulders and neck; it even hurt when a friendly arm was put around her shoulder.

Her mother’s death came as another heavy blow and she decided not to stand for re-election in 2001. I tried to dissuade her but her interest was firmly focused in working internationally, preferably with the UN. Eventually, Tony nominated her to the Board of the International Crisis Group, work that she enjoyed greatly.

Outside Parliament, she continued to care about politics and was hostile to the Iraq war, appearing on the platform of the great march of February 2003, even though she was clearly unwell. She continued to write on political issues and appeared at meetings to promote her book up until a few months ago.

Mo, like Robin Cook, was a long-term supporter of electoral reform. Both of them — me, too — increased their commitment to electoral reform after their experience of government. Neither lost faith in the values that brought them into politics, but both were deeply troubled by the concentration of power in the executive under our distorted electoral system.

It is saddening to reflect on how many of the leading politicians of my generation we have already lost — John Smith, Donald Dewar, Robin Cook and now Mo. People in the street have asked me that old question about why the best die young. It’s probably true but we always romanticise what might have been; all of these were politicians with vision and principle. The lack of integrity in politics now howls at the gaps they have left. Some argue that Mo was too honest to be a great politician. But that is to take the cynical view of politics. If there were more like Mo, there would be less disillusionment.

Mo was full of love and people loved her in return — she was deeply happy with her late marriage to Jon Norton, the merchant banker turned painter. She brought a sincerity and human warmth to new Labour that is otherwise sadly lacking. Mo died too young, but while she was with us brought a wonderful sparkle to life and politics.

Clare Short is Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood and former International Development Secretary