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

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

in the

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. O'Toole attended Sacred Heart Convent School in Fenham,

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

, then studied at

Northumbria University Northumbria University (legally the University of Northumbria at Newcastle) is a Public research university, public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, North East of England. It has been a university since 199 ...

.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 politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Darlington from 1992 to 2010. A member of the Labour Party, he served for five years in the Cabinet, first as Chief Secretary to the Treasury f ...

, 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, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

. O'Toole then completed a PhD at the

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

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

University of Bristol The University of Bristol is a public university, public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Br ...

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

North East England North East England, commonly referred to simply as the North East within England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of County DurhamNorthumberland, , Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and part of northern North Yorkshire. ...

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 60 ...

, 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 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the United Kingdom, allowing only women to stand in particular constituencies for a particular political p ...

to be the Labour candidate in the safe seat of

Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland ( ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish at the confluence of the River Wear and the River Gaunless in County Durham, England. It is northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham, England, Durham. M ...

at the 2005 general election, but was not selected. Since 2008 she has been a visiting professor and the

Jean Monnet Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet (; 9 November 1888 – 16 March 1979) was a French civil servant, entrepreneur, diplomat, financier, and administrator. An influential supporter of European unity, he is considered one of the founding fathers of t ...

Fellow at

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

References

External links

*
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 Alumni of the University of Leeds