Frank Cook
Encyclopedia
Francis Cook is a British
Independent politician, who was the Labour Party
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Stockton North from 1983
until 2010.
and was educated at the Corby School in Sunderland, the De la Salle College, Manchester
, and the Institute of Education, Leeds
. Before his election to the Commons, Cook worked variously as a gravedigger
, a Butlins Redcoat
, a transport manager at a steelworks
, a teacher
, and a construction planning engineer.
, securing the nomination following the defection of the sitting Labour MP Bill Rodgers
who was one of the original gang of four
who set up the Social Democratic Party
in 1981. Cook won the seat with a majority of 1,870 with Rodgers finishing in third place behind the Conservative
candidate.
He served as Opposition whip
under Neil Kinnock
from 1987 to 1992. He was a member of the Speaker's
Panel of Chairmen in the 2005-10 parliament. He was a lead campaigner for gun control following the Dunblane massacre
in 1996, and it was reported that he once asked the Tory MP Andrew Mackay to "step outside for a fight". In the 2005 political year, the Public Whip found Cook to be the 38th most rebellious MP (out of 635) and he has recently become known for his dissent concerning the controversial ID Cards and Racial and Religious Hatred Bill
. He has the large former ICI
site at Billingham
in his constituency and is a proud supporter of Hartlepool FC.
) was de-selected by his local constituency Labour Party when choosing its candidate for the next general election in favour of Alex Cunningham
. In April 2010 he announced that he would stand as an independent in the general election.
In the 2010 general election, he stood as an independent, coming in fifth behind Cunningham (Labour 16,923; 42.8%), Ian Galletley (Conservative 10,247; 25.9%), Philip Latham (Liberal Democrat 6,342; 16.1%), and James MacPherson (British National Party 1,724; 4.4%). Cook received 1,577 votes, 4.0%, and lost his deposit.
revealed he had tried to reclaim, as an expense, the £5 he had donated during a service at Stockton Parish Church to commemorate the Battle of Britain. The parliamentary fees office rejected his claim.
, at the 1992 Billingham folklore festival. He later divorced Lundrigan and married Baldinger.
In an interview in 2008, with the Evening Gazette, he said his new love was “almost too perfect”. “She’s a wonderful artist and a lady of considerable skill and merit,” he said. “Do you know, she’s never made me the same meal twice since we met.”
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Independent politician, who was the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Stockton North from 1983
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
until 2010.
Background
Cook was born in HartlepoolHartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
and was educated at the Corby School in Sunderland, the De la Salle College, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, and the Institute of Education, Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. Before his election to the Commons, Cook worked variously as a gravedigger
Gravedigger
A gravedigger is a cemetery worker responsible for digging graves used in the process of burial.-Fossors:Fossor or Fossarius , from the Latin verb fodere 'to dig', referred to grave diggers in the Roman catacombs in the first three centuries of the Christian Era...
, a Butlins Redcoat
Redcoats (Butlins)
Redcoat is the name given to frontline staff at Butlins holiday camps. A Redcoat may have many duties ranging from adult entertainer or children's entertainer to stewarding.-History:The first Redcoat was Norman Bradford...
, a transport manager at a steelworks
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
, a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, and a construction planning engineer.
Parliament
He was selected to contest Stockton North at the 1983 General ElectionUnited Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
, securing the nomination following the defection of the sitting Labour MP Bill Rodgers
William Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank
William Thomas Rodgers, Baron Rodgers of Quarry Bank, PC , usually known as William Rodgers but also often known as Bill Rodgers, was one of the "Gang of Four" of senior British Labour Party politicians who defected to form the Social Democratic Party...
who was one of the original gang of four
Limehouse Declaration
The Limehouse Declaration was a statement issued on 25 January 1981 by four senior British Labour politicians, all MPs or former MPs and Cabinet Ministers: Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
who set up the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
in 1981. Cook won the seat with a majority of 1,870 with Rodgers finishing in third place behind the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
candidate.
He served as Opposition whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
under Neil Kinnock
Neil Kinnock
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him...
from 1987 to 1992. He was a member of the Speaker's
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
Panel of Chairmen in the 2005-10 parliament. He was a lead campaigner for gun control following the Dunblane massacre
Dunblane massacre
The Dunblane massacre was a multiple murder-suicide which occurred at Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane on 13 March 1996. Sixteen children and one adult were killed by Thomas Hamilton before he committed suicide.-Timeline of events:...
in 1996, and it was reported that he once asked the Tory MP Andrew Mackay to "step outside for a fight". In the 2005 political year, the Public Whip found Cook to be the 38th most rebellious MP (out of 635) and he has recently become known for his dissent concerning the controversial ID Cards and Racial and Religious Hatred Bill
Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which creates an offence in England and Wales of inciting hatred against a person on the grounds of their religion...
. He has the large former ICI
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
site at Billingham
Billingham
Billingham is a town in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in north east England, with a population of 35,765 . It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated...
in his constituency and is a proud supporter of Hartlepool FC.
2010 general election
In January 2008, Cook (a member of the Socialist Campaign GroupSocialist Campaign Group
The Socialist Campaign Group is a left-wing democratic socialist grouping of Labour Party Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. It was formed in December 1982 as an alternative Parliamentary left-wing group to the Tribune Group...
) was de-selected by his local constituency Labour Party when choosing its candidate for the next general election in favour of Alex Cunningham
Alex Cunningham
Alexander Cunningham is a British Labour Party politician. He was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Stockton North....
. In April 2010 he announced that he would stand as an independent in the general election.
In the 2010 general election, he stood as an independent, coming in fifth behind Cunningham (Labour 16,923; 42.8%), Ian Galletley (Conservative 10,247; 25.9%), Philip Latham (Liberal Democrat 6,342; 16.1%), and James MacPherson (British National Party 1,724; 4.4%). Cook received 1,577 votes, 4.0%, and lost his deposit.
£5 expense claim
In May 2009, The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
revealed he had tried to reclaim, as an expense, the £5 he had donated during a service at Stockton Parish Church to commemorate the Battle of Britain. The parliamentary fees office rejected his claim.
Personal life
Cook married Patricia Lundrigan in 1959; the couple had three daughters and a son. He was still married to first wife Patricia when he met Princess Somsangouane Baldinger of LaosLaos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, at the 1992 Billingham folklore festival. He later divorced Lundrigan and married Baldinger.
In an interview in 2008, with the Evening Gazette, he said his new love was “almost too perfect”. “She’s a wonderful artist and a lady of considerable skill and merit,” he said. “Do you know, she’s never made me the same meal twice since we met.”
External links
- Frank Cook MP official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Frank Cook MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Frank Cook MP
- The Public Whip - Frank Cook MP voting record
- BBC News - Frank Cook profile 10 February, 2005