'Politics is practised by people, most of them with big egos'

THE death of former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has prompted a host of tributes to a woman whose down-to-earth style, sense of fun and unconventional approach made her one of Britain's most popular politicians.

She is said to have been in the habit of taking off her wig to break the tension at negotiations leading up to the Good Friday Agreement. And she is also reported to have called Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness "babe" during a telephone conversation.

She took brave risks for the sake of peace in Northern Ireland and was credited with advancing the peace process, despite criticism from the Unionist camp.

But it is said her political fate was sealed when she upstaged Tony Blair without even trying. When the Prime Minister praised her work in Northern Ireland and referred to her as "our Mo" in his speech to the 1998 Labour conference, delegates rose to their feet in a prolonged standing ovation, leaving Mr Blair embarrassed. The following year she was replaced in Northern Ireland by Mr Blair's closest ally Peter Mandelson.

She later wrote a book in which she claimed Mr Blair's chief aides had orchestrated a whispering campaign against her in an attempt to ruin her political career.

But despite the obvious bitterness of the complaint, the Prime Minister was one of the first to pay tribute to Ms Mowlam, describing her as "one of the most remarkable and colourful personalities" ever to enter politics.

The fulsome appreciation was in contrast to the Prime Minister's more muted tribute to Robin Cook when he died a fortnight ago and the apparent snub when he failed to interrupt his holiday to attend the former Foreign Secretary's funeral in St Giles' Cathedral.

The attack made on Mr Blair from the cathedral pulpit by Mr Cook's friend, racing tipster John McCririck, was out of place, but the thrust of the criticism clearly struck a chord with many members of the public. And the Prime Minister's promise to attend a memorial service in London at a future date hardly makes up for his ill-judged absence from the funeral.

Mr Cook had profound disagreements of principle with Mr Blair, not least over the Iraq war, and it may not be surprising that Mr Blair should not be seen as his number one fan.

But the deaths of two such outspoken politicians as Ms Mowlam and Mr Cook, so close together, serves to highlight the tensions and undercurrents which affect all political parties.

Tony Benn, the elder statesman of the left, always insists politics should not be about personalities and perhaps in general it shouldn't. But politics is practised by people, most of them with big egos, and clashes of personality are every bit as certain as disagreements on policy.

Sometimes the closest political friendships are formed between people in opposing parties, while deep personal hostilities between individuals supposedly on the same side can be hidden beneath a necessary facade of party unity.

Chancellor Gordon Brown had patched up his differences with Mr Cook and was able to deliver a moving and eloquent eulogy at the funeral service.

And the long-running tensions between Mr Brown and Mr Blair were famously put to one side for the general election campaign earlier this year, when the pair toured the country as a double act.

Ted Heath and Margaret Thatcher never patched up their differences. When Sir Edward died in July, Lady Thatcher was among the mourners at the funeral, but one cannot help wondering if her presence would really have been welcomed by her predecessor.

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