Product Description

As the Iraqi conflict led to his resignation from the Cabinet, Robin Cook, former Foreign Secretary, focuses on the build-up to and the consequences of the war. Through diary entries and commentary, he explores how the excitement at Blair's victory in l997 - and the very real advances in his first parliament - gave way to a decline in public confidence, deepening challenges to parliamentary democracy and an increasing loss of momentum in his second parliament. Based on first-hand experiences of the Cabinet and Commons since the last election, Cook explains how decisions came to be taken and explores the consequences of those decisions. The struggle for greater democracy, the increased conservatism of the present government and the march to war provides a dramatic and compelling story from one of Labour's most brilliant politicians.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #228552 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

About the Author
Robin Cook was appointed Leader of the House of Commons and President of the Council in June 2002. He held a number of senior positions in Opposition - Shadow Foreign Secretary, Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Shadow Health Secretary and Social Services Secretary - before becoming Foreign Secretary from 1997 until 2001

Customer Reviews

Best accoubnt yet of the Iraq war
The basic narrative of Point of Departure is Robin Cook's perspective on the build up to the War on Iraq after September 11th. He faithfully recorded for his diary the key events leading up to this and his role in it, though one wonders at the end of the book whether he was lied to, or is idealistic about what his efforts could achieve (or is that naïve?). Working from a position as Leader of the House of Commons he was mainly on the periphery of events, though he battles endlessly to secure voting rights for Parliament in the run-up to the war.

The second main narrative strand focuses upon his attempts to reform Parliament and strengthen it as an institution. He clearly loves Parliament, and works hard to ensure that the House of Commons is a stronger chamber.

All through this book there is a real sense of frustration - mainly directed at Tony Blair. He is frustrated that the Labour Party feels unable to resist moves towards war I Iraq, and through the book adopts a consistent and entirely logical argument as to why this should be the case. He is also deeply frustrated that the Government cannot see the merits of Parliamentary reform, on which he was thwarted a number of times, often by other figures in the Government.

This is an exceptionally interesting book on a number of levels. For those interested in politics it reveals the process through which policy passes - I was surprised at how much dissent there was within the government towards different aspects of the Government's proposals. At the same time it was interesting how united ideologically the Labour party is, with the exception of Number 10. Robin Cook appears to be friendly with a number of Ministers who are usually regarded as being Blairite - most specifically Alan Milburn and Steven Byers.

There also a lot here for the casual reader - the book is shot through with moments of humour, and it is interesting to read about the peculiarities of ministerial life. This book is definitely worth investigation.

Westminster Skater
Robin Cook was one of those British Parliamentarians more truly interested more in Parliament than policy as such (Enoch Powell was another). Such people skate efortlessly over the arcane rituals and rules of Westminster, seem to be politicians of principle too, usually, yet ultimately achieve little and leave less behind them.

Cook, like many another superficially cerebral Scottish politico (cf David Steel) came to Parliament from a background in University achievement and solid political base-building. Eventually he became Foreign Secretary, but made the mistake of criticizing Israel, after which his relationship with his secretary (later, wife) Gaynor, suddenly came to public view, leaving an angry first wife floundering noisily in the wake of the affaire.

The book is a reasonably good read and does have some startling and disturbing insights, or, rather, anecdotes, into the Blair type of administration. Particularly dark is the way people such as a journalistic careerist, Alastair Campbell, exercized direct power over ministers, sometimes mouthdroppingly so, as when Campbell takes Cook's briefcase and tells him, damn nears ORDERS him, to go do something! There was a time when it was something to be a British Cabinet Minister...

Cook, like Alan Clark before him, seems to covet his M.P. and ministerial rank and is willing to rather kowtow to the Prime Minister to retain both. A weak Foreign Secretary, he found a better role as Leader of the House. Worth reading.

Robin Cook
A fascinating account of the Cabinet machinations in the run up to the Iraq war. Will provide valuable documentary evidence to Historians on one man's determination to take Britain to war.