Remember one of the most brave men in Labour politics

Lorin Mon May 21, 2007 at 09:51:11 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

I have just seen this video on youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heWJuAPO9zw



We need to remember Robin Cook.
I didn't like him before his resignation, but that resignation just showed that he was a man of integrity, and who did what all the cabinet should have done.
If he was still alive today, I presume he would be the next leader of the labour party.


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Remember one of the most brave men in Labour politics | 11 comments (11 topical)

Re: Remember (#1)

by jkitleft on Mon May 21, 2007 at 10:00:32 PM GMT

I assume Cook would be the leader of the Labour Party today, were he still alive.


Re: Remember (#2)

by Glass House on Mon May 21, 2007 at 10:22:58 PM GMT

I'm not 100% sure - but it would have been a close run thing.


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Re: Remember (#3)

by jkitleft on Mon May 21, 2007 at 10:43:43 PM GMT

come to think of it, (as much as enjoy counterfactuals) the only problem is that the world moves on very quickly. Cook was tipped for a cabinet post in the near future, paticuarly under Brown, as they had apparently warmed closer, over the idea of democratic socialism. So Cook may not have wanted to stand.


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Re: Remember (#4)

by grimupnorth on Tue May 22, 2007 at 08:00:06 AM GMT

I think that asthings stand he would have beaten Brown, yes. And it would have been a better Labour Government for it.Robin Cook would have respected all wings of the Party and even maybe possibly included some left-wingers in his Cabinet.I saw him give a speech shortly before he died and he was deeply concerned about the state of the Party.It's a terrible shame that he died.As it was that John Smith died. Both were men of honour.


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Re: Robin Cook (#5)

by JR on Tue May 22, 2007 at 04:32:24 PM GMT

He certainly would not have beaten Brown. He was completely lampooned by the media and I'm afraid did not command as much respect as people imagine he did.


Re: Robin Cook (#6)

by jkitleft on Tue May 22, 2007 at 06:15:51 PM GMT

who cares? He had conviction unlike many politicians in the Labour Party today? Thats what made him respected


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Re: Robin Cook (#7)

by swatantra on Wed May 23, 2007 at 11:30:09 AM GMT

I agree, he was no match for Brown. What I remember is Cook carrying on a clandestine affair whilst we were hammering the Tories on sleaze and family values.


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Re: Robin Cook (#8)

by jkitleft on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:30:06 PM GMT

He still had more respect in one eylash than Blair had in his whole body. I don't really care if he had an affair. He took a principled stand on Iraq, and resigned.


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Re: Robin Cook (#9)

by swatantra on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:36:38 PM GMT

A pity then that his principles didn't extend to other areas of his life.


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Re: Robin Cook (#10)

by Lorin on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:50:58 PM GMT

What, do you mean like not selling peerages of cash or starting an illegal war? No he wasn't perfect, I stated I didn't even like him before he resigned. But his resignation showed that he was better than the rest of the cabinet.


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Re: Robin Cook (#11)

by Lorin on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:51:44 PM GMT

*for cash, not of cash. My mistake.


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Remember one of the most brave men in Labour politics | 11 comments (11 topical)