Mowlam, Marjorie (‘Mo’) (1949–2005)

British Labour politician, secretary of state for Northern Ireland 1997–99 and minister for the Cabinet Office and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1999. After her appointment, she made an immediate impact on politics in the province. Her willingness to ‘take risks’ to promote the peace process, including a January 1998 visit to convicted loyalist terrorists in the Maze prison, helped bring about the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, paving the way for the election of a power-sharing Northern Ireland assembly.

After studying in the UK and the USA, she embarked on an academic career, at Newcastle University and Northern College, Barnsley, before entering the House of Commons, representing Redcar, at the 1987 general election. She joined Labour's shadow cabinet, covering Northern Ireland 1988–89, trade and industry 1989–92, the Citizen's Charter and women's affairs 1992–93, national heritage 1993–94, and Northern Ireland again 1994–97. She became a member of the Labour Party National Executive in 1995.

Following her appointment as secretary of state for Northern Ireland she initiated a non-ministerial dialogue with Sinn Fein, and took positive steps towards avoiding the clashes between Catholics and Protestants during the annual ‘marching season’.

Mowlam was born in Coventry and educated at Coundon Court Comprehensive School, the University of Durham, and Iowa University, where she obtained her PhD. She cut short a promising academic career to enter full-time politics.