A tragic loss - the man who was proven right in his own lifetime

FEW politicians resign from Cabinet on grounds of principle. Most are only proved right about their issue of principle after their deaths.

Even though he was only 59 when he died suddenly last Saturday, the former British foreign secretary, Robin Cook, was one of those proven right in his own lifetime.

I remember working at home on St Patrick’s Day 2003 with BBC television on in the background showing live coverage of the House of Commons debate on the Iraq war. There is something about the internal architecture of the chamber which makes any big occasion in Westminster memorable.