 | 'I have heard it said that Iraq has had not months but 12 years in which to complete disarmament, and that our patience is exhausted. Yet it is more than 30 years since resolution 242 called on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories. We do not express the same impatience with the persistent refusal of Israel to comply.' Rt Hon Robin Cook, 17 th March 2003. |  |
Robin Cook's former election agent has been selected as Labour's candidate to fight the by-election caused by the former foreign secretary's death.
Jim Devine will defend a Labour majority of more than 13,000 votes in the Livingston constituency.
The Liberal Democrats have chosen Charles Dundas as their candidate, and the Scottish National Party have selected Angela Constance.
Mr Devine is an official with trade union Unison.
He was best man when Mr Cook married his second wife, Gaynor.
'Great privilege'
He had been Mr Cook's election agent since the 1983 general election and has held several key positions in the Labour Party in Scotland.
No date has yet been set for the by-election caused by the death of Mr Cook at the start of August, while on a walking holiday.
Mr Devine said: "I am obviously delighted and honoured to be selected by my political peers.
"It is a great privilege to represent the community in which you were born and brought up."
He went on: "I will never, ever, be Robin Cook.
"But if I am successfully elected, people can at least say that I laced his boots."
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