RIP Robin

August 7, 2005 3:27 AM

Robin Cook, MP for Livingstone, has died whilst hill-walking in his native scotland. His principled stand on the Iraq war led to his resignation from the house of commons on the eve of the war. The UK has lost one of its most respected politicians.
posted by handee (47 comments total)

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posted by seanyboy at 3:31 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by biffa at 3:31 AM on August 7, 2005

Prime Minister Tony Blair was also quick to pay tribute. 'Robin was an outstanding, extraordinary talent - brilliant, incisive in debate, of incredible skill and persuasive power,' he said.

And, as it turns out Mr. Prime Minister, 100% correct about Iraq.
posted by three blind mice at 3:45 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by TheDonF at 3:46 AM on August 7, 2005

One small point - he resigned from the government, but remained in the Commons as a still powerful thorn in Blair's side.

RIP.
posted by dash_slot- at 3:55 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by Eirixon at 3:56 AM on August 7, 2005

at a time when integrety is in short measure, his loss affects us all. it is a shame we won't be seeing him im a post-Blair government.

there is one less reason for voting labour.
posted by quarsan at 4:18 AM on August 7, 2005

You're right dash-slot - my mistake. As I was discussing with my newsagent this morning: we've lost one of the honest ones.
posted by handee at 4:23 AM on August 7, 2005

With Mo Mowlam critically ill in hospital, as well. It's a rough time for the Iraq War opposers in the Labour Government.
posted by Navek Rednam at 4:39 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by nylon at 5:06 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by mmahaffie at 5:12 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by verisimilitude at 5:20 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by wibbler at 5:56 AM on August 7, 2005

What's the deal with all the dots?
posted by PurpleJack at 6:06 AM on August 7, 2005

I heard him speak when I was at an Irish Labour Party conference last year and he was both eloquent and witty. In the political reality of the modern age, where spinning the media is valued over argument and debate, he was the exception. He also ensured the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Scotland.
posted by tomcosgrave at 6:38 AM on August 7, 2005

dots site:metatalk.metafilter.com leads to In case family members (or others) are wondering what this means—it is how Mefites denote a moment of silence.
posted by grouse at 3:26 AM PST on April 15 [!]
posted by dash_slot- at 6:38 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by Schroder at 6:48 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by qwerty155 at 7:05 AM on August 7, 2005

 
posted by NinjaPirate at 7:11 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by dodgygeezer at 7:31 AM on August 7, 2005

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A very principled politician--a very rare thing nowadays.
posted by amberglow at 7:36 AM on August 7, 2005

Seeing his death on the front pages today gave me that surprised-then-sad-then-oh-shit feeling. His principles were high, and he was unafraid to say the unpopular thing, but it's his beautfully arch, incisive wit that I'll miss most. Westminster will be a more boring place without him.
posted by Pallas Athena at 8:17 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by dabitch at 8:19 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by edgeways at 9:58 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by Lebannen at 10:02 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by grouse at 10:13 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by ZaphodB at 10:16 AM on August 7, 2005

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One of the very best. Such a loss.
posted by flashboy at 10:45 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by librarina at 11:15 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by fvw at 11:23 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by DrDoberman at 11:44 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by blacklite at 11:57 AM on August 7, 2005

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posted by gaspode at 12:08 PM on August 7, 2005

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posted by Busithoth at 12:13 PM on August 7, 2005

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posted by Ridge at 12:17 PM on August 7, 2005

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I will miss him a lot.
posted by keijo at 12:30 PM on August 7, 2005

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posted by noius at 1:24 PM on August 7, 2005

I still have the video of his resignation on my computer, and watch it from time to time to hear his inspired indignation. England's loss is felt on this side of the ocean, too.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:08 PM on August 7, 2005

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posted by n o i s e s at 6:44 PM on August 7, 2005

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posted by sunexplodes at 8:04 PM on August 7, 2005

He was Scottish C_D. Just an FYI.
posted by jackiemcghee at 12:27 AM on August 8, 2005

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I think we'd better cross our fingers for a new generation of honest politicians in the Labour government. I know it's a vain hope, but this one's going fast. :(
posted by bwerdmuller at 12:40 AM on August 8, 2005

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one of the old-school and one of the 'good guys' - we need more like him.
posted by twistedonion at 2:58 AM on August 8, 2005

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59. Damn. The good do die young.
Or perhaps it's merely that we feel their loss more.
posted by Smedleyman at 10:04 AM on August 8, 2005

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posted by asok at 4:01 PM on August 8, 2005

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posted by somethingotherthan at 1:59 AM on August 9, 2005

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posted by slf at 7:59 AM on August 9, 2005