| Activity | Robin Cook was born in Bellshill, Scotland. Cook was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and, from 1960, the Royal High School in Edinburgh. He studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained an MA with Honours in English Literature. He studied for a PhD on Charles Dickens and Victorian serial novels, supervised by John Sutherland, but gave it up in 1970.
He joined the Labour Party in 1965. After a period working as a schoolteacher in secondary schools, in 1971 Cook became a tutor–organiser of the Workers' Educational Association for Lothian, and a local councillor in Edinburgh. He gave both up when elected a member of parliament on his 28th birthday, in February 1974, for the seat of Edinburgh Central. With the revision of parliamentary boundaires in 1983, he was returned for the newly created seat of Livingston (previously part of West Lothian). His debating prowess augmented his rise through the parliamentary ranks, from shadow health secretary in 1989 to shadow trade and industry in 1992 to shadow foreign secretary in 1994. When Labour won the General Election in 1997 he became Foreign Secretary but was 'demoted' to Leader of the House in 2001 due to issues over his personal life and an unwillingness to follow the party line.
His opposition to the Iraq War led to his resignation from the Cabinet, and his resignation speech to the House was reported by The Economist to have gained the only ever standing ovation in the House of Commons.
Robin Cook died August 5th 2005, from a sudden heart attack whilst walking in the Scottish Highlands. |