And its existence has saved many lives, and the lives of nearly everyone in Northern Ireland have improved beyond recognition. She was always ready to seek advice, but then she made up her own mind.Nothing in Mo's public life could possibly compare with her contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland. Is that the right thing to do?""No," I said, "ask a short one. That way you will look and sound confident." She did, it worked and I was rewarded with a kiss behind the Speaker's Chair. A bit of credit to my advice, but more credit to Mo's intuitive suspicion about the earlier advice. When her first question session was coming up, she sought me out."Dobbo", she said, "you know how to do things in the House.
I've been advised to ask a long complicated question to demonstrate I've mastered my brief. We also shared views on the divisive nature of religious schools, which were of course bolstered by her experience in Northern Ireland.Her first front-bench job was in the shadow Northern Ireland team. We got on with one another ever after - sharing many jokes and also sharing many serious discussions. Mo was Labour through and through, although her views were rather more conventional than her persona. On education, her commitment to comprehensive schools was based on her personal experience. When people criticise the comprehensive system, I always think of Mo.
I may be prejudiced, but I find it hard to believe she would have been a better person or a more effective Northern Ireland Secretary if she had been to a fee-paying school. I simply can't get away from the feeling that dying so early shouldn't happen to people like Mo. Not that there were many people like Mo - at least not in prominent positions. The first time we met was at a Labour Party conference many years ago Our conversation opened with her telling me a vulgar story. Nor would she be slow in telling you where to go!I will miss Mo tremendously.