News & Politics - Former foreign minister Robin Cook dies aged 59.

-Louise- · 08-06-2005, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who quit government over the Iraq war, died on Saturday after collapsing on a Scottish mountainside. He was 59.

Prime Minister Tony Blair warmly praised Cook as an intellectual and political heavyweight despite their clash over the decision to back the United States in Iraq in 2003.

"This news will be received with immense sadness, not just in Britain but in many parts of the world," Blair said.

"Robin was an outstanding, extraordinary talent -- brilliant, incisive in debate, of incredible skill and persuasive power."

Cook served as foreign secretary from 1997 to 2001 and then became Leader of the House of Commons -- the government's top representative in parliament. He served in that post until 2003.

Cook collapsed on Saturday while walking with his wife Gaynor on Ben Stack mountain in northwest Scotland, police said.

A rescue helicopter took him to hospital in the town of Inverness, where he was pronounced dead.

Colleagues praised Cook as one of the outstanding political debaters of his era. He drew widespread praise for an eloquent resignation speech when he quit the government.

"Though we disagreed over Iraq, I always respected the way in which he put his case," Blair said.

Cook, a Scot, took over the Foreign Office after a landslide election win by the Labour party, pledging a new "ethical dimension" to foreign policy.

But his first year in office was marked by personal embarrassment and questions over his judgement.

He abruptly ended his 28-year marriage to first wife Margaret when a newspaper threatened to reveal he was having an affair with his secretary Gaynor Regan, whom he later married.

He was only 59, and they're not even sure of the cause of death yet. I remember when he quit a few years ago, he sort of just vanished from public view.

Lexis · 08-07-2005, 02:24 AM

He was still around - he wrote quite a few pieces of the Independent.

Its very sad - he made such a principled stand over the Iraq war and you have to admire the fact that he had the courage of his convictions.

LMS · 08-08-2005, 02:56 AM

I admire him for having the courage to stick by his principles concerning the Irar War. It is sad.


Fan Forum > General Discussion > News & Politics > Former foreign minister Robin Cook dies aged 59.