Robin Cook biography

Synopsis

Robin Cook is a British statesman who joined Parliament in 1974. He held various posts in the shadow cabinet before holding posts as chief opposition spokesman on trade and industry and foreign affairs and chair of the Labour Party. He became secretary of state for foreign affairs in the Blair government and Leader of the House of Commons. He resigned in 2003, opposed to the War in Iraq.

Profile

British statesman, born in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, C Scotland, UK. He studied at Edinburgh University, trained as a teacher, then became an MP in 1974. He was opposition spokesman for the Treasury and economic affairs (1980–3), then held various posts in the shadow cabinet, including spokesman on health and social security (1987–92). He managed the leadership campaigns of Neil Kinnock (1983) and John Smith (1992). Other posts include chief opposition spokesman on trade and industry (1992–4) and foreign affairs (1994–7), and chair of the Labour Party (1996–8). He became secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs in the Blair government (1997) and Leader of the House of Commons (2001), but resigned in March 2003 over his opposition to war with Iraq.