Robin Cook
Robin Cook | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Official portrait, 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President of the Party of European Socialists | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 11 June 2001 – 24 July 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Rudolf Scharping | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 8 June 2001 – 17 March 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Margaret Beckett | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Reid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign Secretary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Malcolm Rifkind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jack Straw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of Parliament | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 28 February 1974 – 6 August 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tom Oswald | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jim Devine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Edinburgh Central (1974–1983) Livingston (1983–2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Robert Finlayson Cook 28 February 1946 Bellshill, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 6 August 2005 (aged 59) Inverness, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouses |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Robert Finlayson "Robin" Cook (28 February 1946 – 6 August 2005) was a British Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1974 until his death in 2005 and served in the Cabinet as Foreign Secretary from 1997 until 2001, when he was replaced by Jack Straw. He then served as Leader of the House of Commons from 2001 until 2003.
Cook studied at the University of Edinburgh before being elected as the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh Central in 1974; he switched to the Livingston constituency in 1983. In Parliament, he was known for his debating ability and rapidly rose through the political ranks and ultimately into the Cabinet. As Foreign Secretary, he oversaw British interventions in Kosovo and Sierra Leone.
Cook resigned from his positions as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons on 17 March 2003 in protest against the invasion of Iraq. At the time of his death, he was President of the Foreign Policy Centre and a Vice-President of the America All Party Parliamentary Group and the Global Security and Non-Proliferation All Party Parliamentary Group.