An Audience with Mo Mowlam

ALISON CROOSE

> King's Lynn Arts Centre

A large audience noticeably diminished for the second half of this disappointing evening which lacked the slick presentation and incisive opinions which have become the hallmarks of the current and popular round of political “audiences with . . .”

Mo Mowlam had a style of her own which made her the darling of politics just a few years ago - but her current style did not lend itself to this.

Crib cards, chewing sweets, asking the occupants of the front row to act as timekeepers, and seeking help in keeping her focused on a subject, were not the distractions an eager and interested audience expected.

Mo Mowlam said she was enjoying her life away from the centre stage of government, but she has become too laid back for this mode of entertainment.

She offered an insight into the peace talks in Northern Ireland when she was Secretary of State and admitted she remained addicted to the subject, but we witnessed more of her feistiness when she answered questions from the audience on a wide range of topics.