Barbara Maria O'Toole (born 24 February 1960), known as Mo O'Toole, is a former

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. O'Toole attended Sacred Heart Convent School in

Fenham Fenham is an area of the west-end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It lies to the west of the city centre, and is bounded on the north and east by a large area of open land known as the Town Moor. To the south lies Benwell, West Denton lies ...

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is ...

, then studied at

Northumbria University , mottoeng = A lifetime of learning , established = 1877 - Rutherford College of Technology1969 - Newcastle Polytechnic1992 - gained university status , type = Public , budget = � ...

.Mo O'Toole
ESRC Society Today Soon afterwards, she married future Labour Party MP

Alan Milburn Alan Milburn (born 27 January 1958) is a British Labour Party politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Darlington from 1992 to 2010. He served for five years in the Cabinet, first as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 1998 to 1999, a ...

, although the couple split in the late 1980s. During this period, O'Toole also served as a Labour Party councillor in

Newcastle-upon-Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne ( RP: , ), or simply Newcastle, is a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. The city is located on the River Tyne's northern bank and forms the largest part of the Tyneside built-up area. Newcastle is als ...

. O'Toole then completed a PhD at the

University of Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle University (legally the University of Newcastle upon Tyne) is a UK public research university based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England. It has overseas campuses in Singapore and Malaysia. The university is a red brick univer ...

, then became a lecturer in Government and Public Policy, first at the

University of Bristol , mottoeng = earningpromotes one's innate power (from Horace, ''Ode 4.4'') , established = 1595 – Merchant Venturers School1876 – University College, Bristol1909 – received royal charter , type ...

, then at Newcastle. At the European Parliament election, 1999, she was elected for the Labour Party in

North East England North East England is one of nine official regions of England at the first level of ITL for statistical purposes. The region has three current administrative levels below the region level in the region; combined authority, unitary authorit ...

from third on the party list. She lost her seat in

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

, despite being moved up to second on the party list. O'Toole was on an

all-woman shortlist All-women shortlists (AWS) is an affirmative action practice intended to increase the proportion of female Member of Parliament, Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom, allowing only women to stand in particular United Kingdom constit ...

to be the Labour candidate in the safe seat of

Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland () is a market town and civil parish at the confluence of the River Wear and the River Gaunless in County Durham, northern England. It is northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham. Much of the town's early history surro ...

at the 2005 general election, but was not selected.Four women in battle for Labour
, ''

Northern Echo ''The Northern Echo'' is a regional daily morning newspaper based in the town of Darlington in North East England, serving mainly southern County Durham and northern Yorkshire. The paper covers national as well as regional news. In 2007, its the ...

'', 3 March 2005 Since 2008 she has been a visiting Professor for Culture, Creativity and Innovation at Newcastle University and, from 2010, partner in the Independent Wine Store Carruthers and Ken

in Gosforth, Newcastle.

References

*
O’TOOLE, Dr Barbara Maria, (Mo)
, Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010; online edn., Oxford University Press, Dec 2009; online edn, Nov 2009, accessed 21 Dec 2009. {{DEFAULTSORT:Otoole, Mo 1960 births Living people Academics of the University of Bristol Academics of Newcastle University Alumni of Northumbria University Alumni of Newcastle University Councillors in Tyne and Wear Labour Party (UK) councillors Labour Party (UK) MEPs English people of Irish descent Politicians from Newcastle upon Tyne MEPs for England 1999–2004 Women councillors in England