The eighth and final episode in the fourth series of this chat show presented by regional television personality Mike Neville. In this final episode Mike speaks with the former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Redcar Dr Marjorie ‘Mo’ Mowlam about her upbring, teaching career and turbulent life in politics which includes her time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and her work on the Good Friday Agreement. Title: The Mike Neville Show Standing with the pier at...

The eighth and final episode in the fourth series of this chat show presented by regional television personality Mike Neville. In this final episode Mike speaks with the former Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Redcar Dr Marjorie ‘Mo’ Mowlam about her upbring, teaching career and turbulent life in politics which includes her time as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and her work on the Good Friday Agreement. Title: The Mike Neville Show Standing with the pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea in the background, Mike Neville introduces his guest by describing her as one of the hardest working ministers in Tony Blair’s 1997 Labour government and probably the most popular politician of her day. Title: Mike Meets Mo A clip from a television news report from May 1997 on a visit to Belfast city centre by the then new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam. As she walks around the busy shopping streets she talks with local people while also being followed by the media. In an interview to camera, she makes a link between the people of Northern Ireland and those in her constituency of Redcar back in the Northeast. Sitting in a garden Mike asks Mo about her decision not to stand in the 2001 General Election and if she believes what some in the media have said that she is ‘a prisoner of her own popularity.’ She explains that her decision not to stand was based on her wish to do something else and doesn’t agree with the statement as she does likes people. Over a montage of relevant photographs Mo talks about growing up and enjoying her school days where she believes she found her politics. She talks about her popularity at school and what drove her to work so hard. She explains that she did it because she wanted to go to university and do something with her life. She talks about her time at Durham University where she got into student politics. She talks about how she met her first British politicians through an American family friend Alvin Toffler. Mo is asked about her time working as a researcher for Tony Benn and if maverick politicians like him and her have a home in mainstream politics. She believes so otherwise it would be very boring. Over relevant images of the time she talks about doing her post-graduate course at the University of Iowa in the United States of America and is asked if her time there changed her views on what Britian was like as a country. She explains why it made her love England more. She talks about her time working as a teacher in Tallahassee Florida and the frightening experience of an intruder breaking into her home. Returning to Britian in 1979 Mo talks about her time lecturing in Politics at Newcastle University and joining the Newcastle Labour Party. She explains that at that time the party was very male-centric, but that she got to know many great women’s section who she saw as being the backbone of the party raising the money and doing all the business. She is asked about being a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and getting in trouble with the university for holding a series of ‘alterative Reith lectures’ on disarmament. She talks about her unsuccessful campaign in the 1983 General Election for the seat for Newcastle Central and her work to help election Neil Kinnock as the new leader of the Labour Party the same year. Regarding the 1987 General Election she explains why it was a complete fluke she was selected for the Redcar sear. As she speaks Tyne Tees Television news coverage of Mo out canvasing during the election. Title: The Mike Neville Show Another clip from a Tyne Tees Television news report on Mo celebration 10-years as MP for Redcar in June 1997. She explains that if you ever lose touch with the people who elected you, you can’t do a good job. Returning to her and Mike in the garden she is asked how her colleagues in the House of Commons reacted to her relaxed upfront method. She explains that they learned to cope and states that she doesn’t believe in pomp and circumstance and that you need an open spirit to have open discussions, to get change, to get momentum and movement. Mo is asked about an early frontbench job as City Spokesperson for Trade and Industry, she talks about the challenges of the job and the importance of looking confident. Regarding the immense amount of work she puts into her many jobs as a politician, she is asked if she considers herself to be a workaholic. She doesn’t believe she is believing instead that it is important to work hard to represent the people of Redcar. She is asked about her time as Shadow spokesperson for Heritage and her push to change Labour’s relationship with much of the written press. Did she believe these improvements made Labour electable? Not on their own no but if you want change you need to talk to people. A clip of a Tyne Tees Television news report in which Mo is interviewed in June 1994 about Tony Blair describing him as confidence and determination to get things done. A clip from another Tyne Tees Television news report from April 1997 relating to Mo’s cancer treatment and decision to stand in the General Election. She explains to Mike why she kept her diagnosis and treatment a secret and kept on with the campaigning which she believes helped her. As she speaks views of her Redcar campaign office with posters of her in the front window. Another Tyne Tees Television news clip of Tony Blair and other New Labour figures winning their seats to Parliament on the night of the 1997 General election. Mike asks Mo about heading to Northern Ireland and the controversial handshake with Republican politician Gerry Adams. She explains why she doesn’t have any regrets as she believed the only way to make progress in Northern Ireland was to communicate with both sides. Another local news report from July 1997 on the decision by Mo, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to allow the Drumcree parade to go ahead. She is asked if she felt sidelined in the Good Friday negotiation following the arrival of American diplomat George Mitchell and President Bill Clinton. She states that it was her who put the groundwork in and got it all started, and the work of both Mitchell and Clinton were crucial so if people believe she was sidelined then that was fine. Another clip from a Tyne Tees Television news report from October 1999 of Mo coming out of Number 10 Downing Street with Peter Mandelson following a cabinet re-shuffle. She is asked how she felt being replaced as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by Peter Mandelson. She simply replies that she didn’t want to go, but in the end, it was Tony Blair’s decision as he was Prime Minister. Bringing the interview to a close Mike ask Mo if she has made enemies while in politics, she explains that if you do something to move things forward then you do make enemies. Finally, she is asked now that she has left Parliament what is she going to do. She provides details on raising money for integrated education in America as well as develop what she calls MoMo Homes which will be a place where parents with disabled children can get respite and give the disabled a break. She also talks about a related project to support ex-addicts which would include them also working in the disabled home. She ends the interview by confirming that she has no plans to leave Redcar as it is her home. Over the closing credit a montage of Mo in various news clips. Credit: Title Music Alan Clark Make-Up Lucy Cain Electrician Steve Wallace Sound Recordist Donna Baillie Second Camera Martin Gibson Lighting Cameraman Chris Sutcliffe Dubbing Mixer Peter Groom Editor Steven Craggs Associate Producer Barbara Buglass Executive Producer Graeme Thompson Producer Peter Mitchell End title: A Peter Mitchell production for Yorkshire/Tyne Tees Television. © Tyne Tees Television MMI