The Point of Departure

On 17 March 2003, Robin Cook, Leader of the House of Commons and former Foreign Secretary, resigned from the Cabinet in protest against the coming war in Iraq. His resignation speech prompted the first standing ovation in the history of the House and marked the end of the ministerial career of one of Labour's most brilliant politicians.

For the previous two years, Robin Cook kept a diary, a personal record of the life of Labour's second term, a diary that forms the core of this narrative. "The Point of Departure" is Robin Cook's unvarnished account of this extraordinary period in our political history. Though surprised by his abrupt dismissal as Foreign Secretary, he became determined to effect the changes in Parliamentary democracy that he believed were essential if Parliament was to move into the 21st century. As Tony Blair told him "this is the job for you".

Drawing on first-hand experiences in the Commons and the Cabinet, of encounters in conferences, corridors, and late-night conversations, we follow his gathering disillusionment as the political compass of the government changes to directions which he believes to be profoundly mistaken: from its failure to bring about Lords reform and its unwillingness to provide leadership for social change, to a foreign policy which has led us away from our destiny in Europe, into alliance with the most right-wing government in American history, and participation in Bush's war on Iraq.

This is the story of a government in power and the tensions between those who govern. But above all, it is the story of a politician who genuinely wanted to bring democracy closer to the people, but who saw a government increasingly detached from the value of himself and his party, and who developed a growing conviction that on Iraq, its position was morally, diplomatically and politically wrong. The first inside account of the Blair government from a holder of one of the great offices of State, incisive, interspersed with moments of personal reflection and humour, devastating in its conclusions, "The Poing of Departure" is the most important political publication of the decade.

Robin Cook was appointed Leader of the House of Commons and President of the Council in June 2002. He held a number of senior positions in Opposition - Shadow Foreign Secretary, Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Shadow Health Secretary and Social Services Secretary - before becoming Foreign Secretary from 1997 until 2001