Mowlam injected ‘liberating energy’ into NI peace talks, says Blair

Former Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam was renowned for her down-to-earth approach.

The late Mo Mowlam has been praised by Tony Blair (PA)) (PA Archive)

Former Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam brought a “liberating energy” to peace process talks and created a different climate for negotiations, Sir Tony Blair has said.

The former prime minister said the late Ms Mowlam is deserving of a “special mention” for injecting fresh impetus into efforts to secure a deal when Labour swept to power in 1997 and she was handed the Northern Ireland portfolio.

She quickly made a name for herself as a down-to-earth and bluntly honest operator.