Comments on: Robin Cook http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779 Every day the Prime Minister's Spokesman meets a small coterie of political journalists known as 'the lobby' for a topical chat, or 'briefing'. Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:33:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: recruiter http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-4852 recruiter Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:05:21 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-4852 A man of courage and integrity who stood for what most of us thought on the Iraq war. The last I've seen him was in Border book shop in B'ham - signing his new book. God bless him A man of courage and integrity who stood for what most of us thought on the Iraq war.
The last I’ve seen him was in Border book shop in B’ham - signing his new book.

God bless him

]]> By: Sarah http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3442 Sarah Fri, 19 Aug 2005 11:56:34 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3442 I disagree, i think TB was right not to go to Robin Cook's funeral, i mean with all that had happened between them, i think it would have been more disrespectful if he had turned up, everyone would be like 'why is he here, they were a hardly friends', he had already made a statement about Robin plus he will be going to the memorial service, i think thats enough... Other cabinet members attended as friends of Robin, TB would have had a lot of slack if he had attended and the press would have asked the question why is he here? they'd accusde TB of having no respect for him anyway so why is he bothering? i could just see that happening. People would have taken the opposite view what ever he had decided to do! TB - i think you did the right thing!!! s I disagree, i think TB was right not to go to Robin Cook’s funeral, i mean with all that had happened between them, i think it would have been more disrespectful if he had turned up, everyone would be like ‘why is he here, they were a hardly friends’, he had already made a statement about Robin plus he will be going to the memorial service, i think thats enough…

Other cabinet members attended as friends of Robin, TB would have had a lot of slack if he had attended and the press would have asked the question why is he here? they’d accusde TB of having no respect for him anyway so why is he bothering? i could just see that happening.

People would have taken the opposite view what ever he had decided to do!

TB - i think you did the right thing!!!

s

]]> By: Andy Miller http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3430 Andy Miller Sat, 13 Aug 2005 21:07:25 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3430 Well Tony I must say I think you have let us all down, You should have gone to his funfuneraleral, He was one of your Team members, and yes he did step down but you still should have gave him your support to show the thanks for what he done that was good when he was in the party, But no you feel your holiday is more important, I know if it was me I would have got the next plane back to go, well you have lost my vote ay the next election. Well Tony I must say I think you have let us all down, You should have gone to his funfuneraleral, He was one of your Team members, and yes he did step down but you still should have gave him your support to show the thanks for what he done that was good when he was in the party, But no you feel your holiday is more important, I know if it was me I would have got the next plane back to go, well you have lost my vote ay the next election.

]]> By: alexa (portugal) http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3429 alexa (portugal) Sat, 13 Aug 2005 08:50:43 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3429 As a labour supporter and a Blair fan i also was shocked to ear that the PM wasn\xB4t attending Mr. Robin Cook\xB4s funeral in Scotland. The "my-venue-will-shift-attentions-from-funeral" PMO excuse doesnt stick and Blair should have put his "iraq war" differences aside and show up, by respect to a great politician and as a diplomatic gesture towards his ex-foreign affairs minister. But then it striked me that maybe Blair decision is an orquestrated "Blair/Gordon" deal: Gordon doing the eulogy to become the center-piece of a future leader of the Labour Party - a social event given "green-light" by Blair for Gordon to lead away (just like Blair glow during Lady Diana funeral) eloquent, heartfelted, powerful and memorable! And what if the Cook family never sent a funeral invitation to the Blairs at all? Then Blair couldnt burst in, even if he wanted to... There\xB4s always 2 sides to a story! Still that was a wrong decision, Mr. Prime Minister. As a labour supporter and a Blair fan i also was shocked to ear that the PM wasn\xB4t attending Mr. Robin Cook\xB4s funeral in Scotland. The "my-venue-will-shift-attentions-from-funeral" PMO excuse doesnt stick and Blair should have put his "iraq war" differences aside and show up, by respect to a great politician and as a diplomatic gesture towards his ex-foreign affairs minister. But then it striked me that maybe Blair decision is an orquestrated "Blair/Gordon" deal: Gordon doing the eulogy to become the center-piece of a future leader of the Labour Party - a social event given "green-light" by Blair for Gordon to lead away (just like Blair glow during Lady Diana funeral) eloquent, heartfelted, powerful and memorable! And what if the Cook family never sent a funeral invitation to the Blairs at all? Then Blair couldnt burst in, even if he wanted to… There\xB4s always 2 sides to a story! Still that was a wrong decision, Mr. Prime Minister.

]]> By: PapaLazzzaru http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3423 PapaLazzzaru Thu, 11 Aug 2005 15:46:28 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3423 Shame on Tony? LMAO! He has no shame, we all know that by now. I heard he was standing down after this term as PM; apparently he reckons even he could do a better job than Dubya... Shame on Tony? LMAO! He has no shame, we all know that by now.

I heard he was standing down after this term as PM; apparently he reckons even he could do a better job than Dubya…

]]> By: Julian Todd http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3421 Julian Todd Thu, 11 Aug 2005 01:44:16 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3421 Blair just hates the Labour Party and everything it stands for. If it was Colin Powell (retired Republican US Foreign Secretary) instead, he'd be along straight away to honour such a hero of the war party. Blair just hates the Labour Party and everything it stands for. If it was Colin Powell (retired Republican US Foreign Secretary) instead, he’d be along straight away to honour such a hero of the war party.

]]> By: roger http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3419 roger Wed, 10 Aug 2005 21:41:32 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3419 Tony,Tony,Tony - babes you really do have to go to this. I know its a waste of your time because well, you know, he is DEAD and so therefore cannot be of any further use to you in your quest for immortality but, whilst you can and will totally ignore the horrible people who write nasty things about you on this site you may find that there is a growing feeling out and about that you have no clothes and feelings and indeed morals when it come to your own ends and achieving them. Of course why should you care because there is no possibility that the electorate will vote other than for YOU at yet another election - purely out of their own stupidity naturally. Tony,Tony,Tony - babes you really do have to go to this. I know its a waste of your time because well, you know, he is DEAD and so therefore cannot be of any further use to you in your quest for immortality but, whilst you can and will totally ignore the horrible people who write nasty things about you on this site you may find that there is a growing feeling out and about that you have no clothes and feelings and indeed morals when it come to your own ends and achieving them. Of course why should you care because there is no possibility that the electorate will vote other than for YOU at yet another election - purely out of their own stupidity naturally.

]]> By: Roger Huffadine http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3414 Roger Huffadine Tue, 09 Aug 2005 18:32:36 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3414 Shame on you Tony - you are even less of a man than I thought. Shame on you Tony - you are even less of a man than I thought.

]]> By: Chuck Unsworth http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3413 Chuck Unsworth Tue, 09 Aug 2005 16:34:54 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3413 It's Blair's duty as a figurehead to set aside his personal prejudices and conveniences and to be present at such ceremonies. Maybe the reality is that he'll get nothing out of it - except perhaps indigestion from the post burial piss-up. Even so, not turning up will speak volumes as to Blair's character. Gutless and entirely lacking in moral strength. A politician, not a statesman. Shame on him. I disagreed with Cook's views often, but I greatly admired his courage and his intellect. At least (and, unusually) Prescott's comments were generous and worthy. It’s Blair’s duty as a figurehead to set aside his personal prejudices and conveniences and to be present at such ceremonies.

Maybe the reality is that he’ll get nothing out of it - except perhaps indigestion from the post burial piss-up. Even so, not turning up will speak volumes as to Blair’s character. Gutless and entirely lacking in moral strength. A politician, not a statesman. Shame on him.

I disagreed with Cook’s views often, but I greatly admired his courage and his intellect.

At least (and, unusually) Prescott’s comments were generous and worthy.

]]> By: Jonathan Smith http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3412 Jonathan Smith Tue, 09 Aug 2005 14:09:37 +0000 http://downingstreetsays.com/briefings/2005/08/08/1779#comment-3412 You can guarantee that had the deceased been someone glamourous or likely to gain him political capital, Blair would have found the time to attend - and probably try to muscle in on the arrangements. You can guarantee that had the deceased been someone glamourous or likely to gain him political capital, Blair would have found the time to attend - and probably try to muscle in on the arrangements.

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