Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2857637.stm

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35669

It would have been more of a blow to Blair if he hadn't known that it was almost certainly coming.

I can't see Cook ending up as PM anyway (or at least I hope not). Whether this is an honest decision or a calculated one would depend on whether he shares my assessment, I guess.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2002
Location:
Posts: 8832

This is just the digest version of the filtered American perspective. I'm curious, is something like this rather monumental and unprecedented?

http://www.msnbc.com/news/886393.asp?0cv=CB10

quote:

---

MSNBC NEWS SERVICES
Britain's Leader of the House of Commons Robin Cook leaves his residence in London on Monday when he resigned from the Cabinet.

LONDON, March 17 — A senior British Cabinet minister resigned Monday in reaction to the decision by the United States and Britain to abandon diplomacy and gird for war with Iraq. Robin Cook, a former foreign secretary, resigned his post as the government’s leader in the House of Commons after a private meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair.

BLAIR FACES a major revolt within his governing Labor Party over his decision to back President Bush in using force to disarm Saddam Hussein. Many in the Labor Party oppose military action without explicit U.N. approval, and Cook was expected to make a personal statement to the House of Commons later Monday.

Although Blair faces considerable discontent among lawmakers in his own party, he is expected to survive any vote. Cook was foreign secretary in Blair’s first government in 1997 but was replaced by Jack Straw in 2001.

International Aid Minister Clare Short has criticized Blair’s policy as “reckless,” but it was not clear if she would also leave the Cabinet.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35669

Ministers have resigned on principle before, but it is unusual in Blair's government because he has kept a tight rein on them all up till now. Robin Cook had signalled ages ago that he would do this, as did Claire Short; it is damaging because Cook is pretty senior (he was foreign secretary until a couple of years ago), but he has ample to reason to dislike Blair anyway (politically and also because he got the foreign secretaries job taken away from him when he had gotten into the groove of being foreign secretary).

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35669

Merged the two threads together.

For neatness, you understand. I get no sexual kicks from exerting my FEARSOME MOD POWERS UH UH UH

So, one thread now.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 13002

quote:

---

Originally posted by mmmsivart
http://www.msnbc.com/news/886393.asp?0cv=CB10

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged