Cook, Robin Robert Finlayson (1946–2005)

Scottish Labour politician, leader of the Commons 2002–03. A member of the moderate-left Tribune Group, he entered Parliament in 1974 and became a leading member of Labour's shadow cabinet, specializing in health matters. When John Smith assumed the party leadership in July 1992, Cook remained in the shadow cabinet as spokesperson for trade and industry. He became shadow foreign secretary under Smith's successor, Tony Blair, in October 1994. As foreign secretary 1997–2001 in Blair's first term, he attempted to place an emphasis on human rights as part of an ethical foreign policy. He resigned as leader of the Commons in March 2003 in protest over Britain's involvement in the Iraq War.

Cook was born in Bellshill, Lanarkshire; he graduated in English literature at Edinburgh University and worked for the Workers' Educational Association before entering politics. He was member of Parliament for Edinburgh Central 1974–83 and for Livingston from 1983. He was a member of the left-wing Tribune group and often opposed the policies of the Wilson and Callaghan governments in the 1970s. He supported unilateral nuclear disarmament in the 1980s and favoured the introduction of proportional representation. During the 1990s he supported the party's modernization under Neil Kinnock and John Smith, but viewed Tony Blair's ‘New Labour’ project as a step too far to the right.