Talk:Mo Mowlam

Image
The notice on the image page implies that this may not be fair use for an article about the author. I suggest we find a better picture for the top of the article - and stick the book cover further down with a para about the book. We can easily write a para on the book as it was controversial. Secretlondon 09:28, 19 August 2005 (UTC)


 * It's fair use as long as it's used to illustrate the book -- for that reason I captioned the image 'Mo Mowlam's memoirs' rather than 'Mo Mowlam, appearing on the cover of her memoirs' or something similar, and added a note about the book further down the article. However, I agree that a more licensable image would be a better substitute -- in any case the covers of books are hardly ideal. --Ngb 09:33, 19 August 2005 (UTC)
 * I've got a better one - and moved the book cover further down. Secretlondon 09:46, 19 August 2005 (UTC)
 * You've made no case for fair use on the image description page. What is your rationale? --Ngb 09:50, 19 August 2005 (UTC)
 * done. Secretlondon 10:46, 19 August 2005 (UTC)
 * Great. That solves that problem, then. :) --Ngb 10:57, 19 August 2005 (UTC)

Was her fight against a brain tumour actually "successful" as suggested in the pre-amble? I'm not sure dying is usually the result of a successful fight against cancer. Admittedly, the tumour didn't lead directly to her death, but she would not have died had she not had the tumour. C P Martin, Nottingham 26/04/2006

Sidelining
One of the claims for her sidelining was that she was too ready to accommodate and give in to the demands of the IRA, but sacking her was difficult because of her popularity. 00:59, 20 July 2006 (UTC)

Bias
Let me start by saying that I don't like Mowlam. However, I hope I can be objective. Parts of the page read like a eulogy to this woman. Specific examples are required.

"She was successful in helping to restore an IRA ceasefire, and including Sinn Féin in the multi-party talks. She also paid an unprecedented - and potentially dangerous - visit to loyalist prisoners in the Maze prison in an attempt to get the loyalists to sign up to the peace process, meeting convicted murderers face-to-face, and unaccompanied".

The sentence implies that including Sinn Fein/IRA in talks was successful. I disagree, and it is POV at best. Quite how would the trip to the Maze have been dangerous? It was a prison. I imagine the NIO would have screened the place for weapons and the like. Also, I think you would need a credible citation to even suggest that she was alone with these men. She would have an interest in saying this, so it should be proven.

In light of events in recent days, I think we should include her quote about Michael Stone being "an unsung hero of the peace process". I will find a citation and include it soon.

The reasons for her removing the wig in meeting is not relevant, not interesting and doubtful in any case. I suggest it is removed.

I will happily debate any of these points. If there are no objections then I will make the changes before the week is out. Quality control 05:17, 27 November 2006 (UTC)


 * I don't know about the rest, but I certainly found the wig sentence interesting. Dmn € &#1332;&#1396;&#1398; 08:01, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

I have made a few changes to the page, as promised. I balanced the introduced. It read like something from a fanclub. Mowlam may well have been popular in arts of the Labour Party, but she was also hated by most people in Northern Ireland. It is fair to have both points of view.

The part about her apparently being stalked by Ted Bundy sounds like a tall tale. Mowlam never provided any proof, and the there was no citation. Unfounded hearsay like this has no place in an encyclopedia.

In light of the events of recent days, it seems fair that we mention her appraisal of the two fallen "heroes of the peace process". It seems unreasonable to salute her as brave, without recognising the risk and ultimate failure of these visits. Mowlam said the words, and they are notable, so they should be included.

The part about her use of illegal drugs was portrayed as a flippant joke. I doubt her actions helped the Government's campaign against drugs. This was after all her job, and it seems reasonable to make a comment on her success in the post.

The comment about the wig was bizarre. Whether she wore it in meeting is irrelevant to any substantive issue. The writer of this section was attemtping to "Dianafy" the page with constant sentimental irrelevant rubbish. This was a deliberate attempt to humanise the woman, and had no place in an encyclopedia.

Am happy to discuss any of these changes. I hope I have expalined my reasons for making the edits I did. Quality control 01:51, 28 November 2006 (UTC)

The above comment about Ted Bundy breaking into her apartment is ambiguous. Does it mean that others have attributed this belief to Mowlam, or that she (Mowlam) believed that it was Ted Bundy. Certainly, she often stated that it was Bundy. Djg67 (talk) 15:44, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Mow33.jpg
Image:Mow33.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to ensure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you. BetacommandBot (talk) 16:01, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Cause of death
This article previously stated that Dr. Mowlam died of "bronchopneumonia and astrocitoma [sic.] of the brain." As the rest of the article did not seem to support her astrocytoma as the cause of death, I did a bit of research. There was no cause of death apparent in any easily accessible news sources, so until someone provides a reference for the bronchopneumonia claim, I have removed all cause of death information. (N.B. I expect the astrocytoma claim is completely false, as her cancer did not seem to directly cause her death.) --Zach425 talk / contribs 02:40, 17 March 2009 (UTC)
 * Someone (82.38.18.89) recently added the cause of death back into the article. Please discuss here first, providing a citation.  Due to the questionable direct contribution of "astrocitoma [sic.]" to her death, as stated above, it is especially important to have a citation before adding this information to the article. --Zach425 talk / contribs 12:20, 24 July 2009 (UTC)
 * It was revealed earlier this month that what we were told before was a lie. The story was that the tumour was benign and she died of injuries sustained in a fall. Now we know her tumour was malignant, it caused her death, and the fall never actually happened. Astrocytoma is a type of brain cancer; if anyone can prove that was the type, please present that evidence. Pneumonia is common in people with advanced cancer, and often contributes to deaths from cancer. A copy of her death certificate would state her cause of death. Lkjhgfdsa 0 (talk) 04:36, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

Request for Comments
There is an RfC on the question of using "Religion: None" vs. "Religion: None (atheist)" in the infobox on this and other similar pages.

The RfC is at Template talk:Infobox person.

Please help us determine consensus on this issue. --Guy Macon (talk) 21:07, 23 April 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified (February 2018)
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Cause of death (also discussed further up)
From :


 * There has been recent publicity regarding Mo Mowlam when she was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and allegedly lied regarding the benign or malignant nature of her brain tumour. Her doctor thought that this tumour could contribute to her behavioural disturbance and poor judgement: ‘But there was nothing I could do. I was her doctor. I was responsible for her care, even if she would not let me keep records in a proper place or write to her GP. I told her to tell [the British Prime Minister Tony] Blair but she didn't, she lied… I was trapped… She was also my patient and I owed her confidentiality’. Reference Merrick[19] On this issue there is frank opposition to Owen's concept of the doctors’ responsibility to their own country. Reference Aaronovitch[20]

Citations are in the linked article. 2601:648:8202:350:0:0:0:C115 (talk) 02:45, 27 February 2022 (UTC)