Thanks for the endorsment Peter..they're rather thin on the ground these days :0)

It's my belief that Robin Cook's resignation was very much a "politicians decision" based on not emotion, but astute assessment of the political situation.
Cook viewed Blairs gamble in giving his personal backing to Bush and war as a monumental political blunder, a blunder which would give Cook his chance to lead the Labour Party; but for that to happen,Cook was obliged to dis-associate himself from Blair and his foreign policy by resigning from the govt. His resignation speech was a masterpiece of political theatre.
It was also important for Cook that the war actually took place, so after his resignation he did not join the demonstrators, but kept a very low profile.

If Cook had lived, when the political tide began to run against Blair, as you and I knew it would, he would have stepped forward as the authentic voice of the Labour Party, with no blood on his hands.

The reason the Labour party are losing seats and credibility is not because of Brown the "Non Personality" the electorate are sick of posturing personalities, but because he and most of his cabinet are still associated in the public perception with the support of Blair, against the wishes of grass roots Labour voters and most of the British public.

Cook would have walked in!

Too devious?.....well you know politicians better than I do.