Former Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam brought a "liberating energy" to peace process talks and created a different climate for negotiations, Sir Tony Blair has said.The former prime minister said the late Ms Mowlam is deserving of a "special mention" for injecting fresh impetus into efforts to secure a deal when Labour swept to power in 1997 and she was handed the Northern Ireland portfolio.

Former Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam brought a "liberating energy" to peace process talks and created a different climate for negotiations, Sir Tony Blair has said.The former prime minister said the late Ms Mowlam is deserving of a "special mention" for injecting fresh impetus into efforts to secure a deal when Labour swept to power in 1997 and she was handed the Northern Ireland portfolio.