Posted on 08/06/2005 10:46:26 AM PDT by Big Bad Bob
Robin Cook 'taken seriously ill'
Former Cabinet minister Robin Cook is seriously ill after he collapsed while out hill walking, reports say. It is believed that he was taken ill near the summit of Ben Stack mountain, near an area known as Laxford Bridge in north-western Scotland.
He was flown by helicopter to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, and is understood to have received 40 minutes of resuscitation en route.
Mr Cook quit as Commons leader in March 2003, in protest over the war in Iraq.
Mr Cook was said to be with a companion at the time he was taken ill.
Robin Cook was flown from Ben Stack to Inverness
On his personal website, he describes himself as a keen follower of horse racing. He is also a keen walker and cyclist.
Police would not confirm reports that Mr Cook had been taken ill.
A statement said only that a "middle-aged male casualty was uplifted and conveyed by helicopter to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness for assessment".
Mr Cook, who first became an MP for Edinburgh Central in 1974, was appointed the shadow health secretary in 1989 and became the shadow trade and industry secretary in 1992.
In 1994, he became the shadow foreign secretary, a position he held until the 1997 election.
After Labour's landslide win, he entered the Cabinet as foreign secretary.
A Cabinet reshuffle after the 2001 Labour victory saw him replaced at the Foreign Office by Jack Straw, with Mr Cook instead given the job of Leader of the Commons.
He resigned that position in the lead-up to the conflict in Iraq in protest over Tony Blair's decision to go to war.
He has been an outspoken critic of the government's foreign policy from the backbench.
bttt
" is understood to have received 40 minutes of resuscitation en route"
That doesn't sound good
Male companion? Always seemed a bit light in the old loafers to me.
Is that Robin Cook the author???
"Is that Robin Cook the author???"
No, no. He is a Brit pol. But the graphic did fit!
well, that was tasteless. Especially now it's been confirmed that he died.
A great loss, IMO. I never particularly agreed with his politics but he was a highly intelligent man who deserved respect- British politics will be the poorer without him.
Former minister Robin Cook dies
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4127654.stm
"Robin Cook was flown from Ben Stack to Inverness"
Inverness, Mississippi? Home of the late Great Bluesman "Little Milton"? I hope she was not looking for a Hospital...plenty of catfish ponds and soybean fields...and the most incredible tasting pecans on the planet...but the closest hospital is in Indianola.
Morning, from Folkestone.
AS you can probably appreciate, this is just breaking and so My initial thoughts are one of regret and sadness. However I can't help but think that this is going to have an massive effect on the way the country will go after Blair leaves office. Let me explain.
Mr Cook was, one of the main Anti-war leaders, he resigned in the hours before the iraq war, and has ever since been an thorn in Blair's side. he was also one, who was very critical of US' Foreign policy, particularly on Israel. What we might see, is that, with the Left without an 'credible' leader, that the liberals and the like are going to have work that bit harder to get the british people on their side.
There is also this. robin cook was an advocate for gordon brown's succession into office, once blair left, this news, is going to make it less likely that this will happen and in fact might open the way for David blunkett to become PM.
Just a thought.
condolences to Mr cook's family
Fox reporting Robin Cook has Died
In that case, I imagine the DU "Cook was killed by Halliburton" threads to start appearing soon.
Well, not Gordon Brown, I hope the brits won't go there, certainly not after the recent attacks.
The Tories need to recruit Giuliani or something.
So we know he's keen and a shadow of sorts.
Robin Cook was always very thoughtful and well-spoken, even if you didn't agree with him on most issues. He did have the principles to resign from the Blair team over the Iraq war, which he never supported; whether you agree with him or not, its a bit different decision and public stand from the Senate Democrats like Mondale who ardently supported the war effort in Vietnam until January 20, 1969 - the day Richard Nixon took office and then did their best to sabotage it thereafter. Surprising Robin Cook died so young (59) as he always looked to be in fairly trim shape. Although did I read that he had tanked up quite a bit in weight after he left the post of Foreign Secretary?
Completely agree. My Dad met him on several occasions in the late 80's when his company was having Union trouble and Cook was Shadow Transport secretary- apparently he showed up after having a meeting scheduled at extremely short notice the night before, and still somehow managed to have a thorough knowledge about labour relations in an obscure part of rural Gloucestershire. Deeply impressive.
My Dad often contrasts him favourably with Michael Howard, who he had lunch with once and who apparently was "the slimiest bastard I've ever met"
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