09/08/2005

Heart disease caused Robin Cook’s death

Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook died from hypertensive heart disease, a post-mortem has revealed.

The 59-year-old Livingston MP collapsed on Saturday, while walking in the Scottish Highlands with his wife Gaynor, 48.

He was pronounced dead at 16:05 BST, after being airlifted to hospital.

Mr Cook’s funeral will be held at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh on Friday.

Downing Street has confirmed that Tony Blair will not be attending the funeral. The Prime Minister is on holiday and his deputy, John Prescott, is expected to attend in his place.

A spokesperson said that Mr Blair would attend a memorial service for Mr Cook, if one was held at a later date.

Mr Cook, who resigned from his Cabinet post in 2003, had been one of the government’s fiercest critics over the war.

Mr Blair paid tribute to Mr Cook following his death, describing him as an “outstanding, extraordinary talent”.

Chancellor Gordon Brown will deliver the eulogy at Mr Cook’s funeral on Friday.

(KMcA/SP)

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