Cook the first war casualty for Blair

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair suffered his first political casualty yesterday with the resignation of Robin Cook.

Leader of the House of Commons Cook, one of the highest profile figures in the Labour Party, last night put Prime Minister Blair’s resolve to the test.

Mr Cook became the first Cabinet rebel to resign as other senior members of the Government met in Downing Street for an emergency session on the Iraqi crisis.

Mr Cook’s resignation followed the announcement by Britain’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, that the Government had finally abandoned its increasingly futile efforts to secure a new UN resolution authorising war.

Yesterday’s resignation came as no surprise after he signalled his deepening reservations at the prospect of military action without a specific UN resolution at last Thursday’s meeting of the Cabinet.

Mr Cook said in a statement: “It is 20 years ago that I first joined Labour’s shadow cabinet. It is with regret I have today resigned from its Cabinet.

“I can’t accept collective responsibility for the decision to commit Britain now to military action in Iraq without international agreement or domestic support.”

Although he has looked an increasingly isolated figure in Government since he was removed as Foreign Secretary after the last General Election, he could prove a formidable rallying point for Labour critics of war.

Two weeks ago, 121 anti-war Labour MPs voted against the Government and there were predictions that there could be an even bigger revolt todayok, leaving Mr Blair dangerously dependant on Tory votes.

Mr Cook, one of the most effective Commons operators, set out his reasons for quitting in a personal statement to the House last night.

For Mr Blair, there was some relief in that International Development Secretary Clare Short, who has also threatened to quit, was apparently still in post. She said she would be considering her future overnight.

The Government attempted to shore up its position with the Attorney General Lord Goldsmith setting out the legal justification for military action.

There were reports of intense political arm-twisting in the corridors of Westminster, with some MPs complaining that ministers were warning potential rebels that they could bring down the Government.

Seven Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain were said to have been working the Commons tea-room, where MPs gather.

Former Cabinet minister Chris Smith, who has led Labour rebels in opposing war, said: “It is a very honourable step that Robin has taken. He clearly felt that he could not support going to war without proper United Nations authorisation.

“He will be a sad loss to the Cabinet and the Government. He is a very senior figure, a figure of considerable weight and parliamentary effectiveness, and to have him on the backbenches, I think, will leave the Government diminished.”