The former MP, Martin Bell, told the BBC he thought the separation would provide Ms Jowell with "some degree of protection" from the political furore.

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When Greene's wife read the story to their young son, the boy cried at the thought of the permanent separation.

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The Progressive Unionist Party's prisoners spokesman, William Smyth, said he thought inmates would look at separation as a logical decision.

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And to do all of this, you need to have clarity of thought and perspective, which only comes with being well rested and having occasional separation from the day-to-day.

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The public also helped the mayor: after he announced a separation from his wife, Donna Hanover, on May 10th, polls showed that most people thought that this was a private matter that would not alter how they voted.

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