Friday, August 19, 2005

Mo Mowlem Dies

Mo Mowlem died this morning after a long battle against cancer.

She was moved from a hospital where she had been taken after falling unconscious following a fall to a hospice. She left her instructions that she did not wish to be revived.

Mo Mowlam was a good politician and above that, a good person. Her legacy will hopefully be the end of the troubles in Northern Ireland. When other politicians pussy-footed around, skirting the issues, Mo Mowlam went stemaing in. She met with IRA prisoners and secured their support and that of Northern Irish politicians. By all accounts she was blunt, to the point and brutally honest in all her dealings be it with politicians, the media or the man on the street - qualities that are sadly lacking from most of her colleagues.

She aired her views on Traitor Blair's war in Iraq very publically, unafraid to criticise the government or the party she was a member of.

To quote the finest group of musicians ever to grace the planet (Queen): "Only the good die young". The song was a tribute to Freddie but I'm sure he won't mind.