Larvatus Prodeo

I meant at the time of his sad passing to write something about the British Labour parliamentarian and former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. Just before his death, I read his diaries of the period leading up to and beyond Blair’s decision to invade Iraq - published in book form as Point of Departure: Diaries from the Front Bench. Cook’s diaries had a real impact on debates about the direction of New Labour, the Iraq War, British foreign policy more generally, and the reform of Parliament and the Labour Party. Cook’s diaries had no salacious material in them, did not appear to breach confidences, and what they revealed of Cook’s personal life warmed you to the author. Yet Cook pulled no punches, described his disillusionment with Blair and other Labour figures, and the direction of policy. He saw the good and the bad in other politicians, wrote elegantly and interestingly, and the book was a page turner that sold well. It’s a tribute to its author, a humanist, socialist, fine Parliamentarian, and fine human being.