Frank Cook

Background

Cook was born in West Hartlepool and was educated at the Corby School (Sunderland), the De la Salle College (Manchester) and the Institute of Education (Leeds).

Education

University of Leeds.

Career

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 He was selected to contest Stockton North at the 1983 general election, securing the nomination following the defection of the sitting Labour Member of Parliament Bill Rodgers who was one of the original gang of four who set up the Social Democratic Party in 1981. He served as Opposition whip under Neil Kinnock from 1987 to 1992.

He was a lead campaigner for gun control following the Dunblane massacre in 1996, and it was reported that he once asked the Tory Member of Parliament Andrew Mackay to "step outside for a fight".

In the 2005 political year, the Public Whip found Cook to be the 38th most rebellious Member of Parliament (out of 635) and he had recently become known for his dissent concerning the controversial Idaho Cards and Racial and Religious Hatred Bill. He had the large former Imperial Chemical Industries site at Billingham in his constituency and was a supporter of Hartlepool Football Club. 2010 general election

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. 428%), Ian Galletley (Conservative 10,247.

259%), Philip Latham (Liberal Democrat 6,342.

161%), and James MacPherson (British National Party 1,724. 44%). Cook received 1,577 votes, 4.0%, and lost his deposit. £5 expense claim

In May 2009, The Daily Telegraph revealed he had tried to reclaim, as an expense, the £5 that an assistant had donated during a service at Stockton Parish Church to commemorate the Battle of Britain.

The Fees Office rejected his claim.

Cook said that he had made the claim by mistake after reimbursing his assistant, and subsequently sued the newspaper for libel. He lost the case when the Telegraph submitted a defence of fair comment and Cook was unable to prove malice.

Cook was diagnosed with lung cancer in early 2011 and died, aged 76, at North Tees Hospital, Stockton on 10 January 2012.

Achievements

• Cook won the seat with a majority of 1,870 with Rodgers finishing in third place behind the Conservative candidate.

Politics

In January 2008, Cook (a member of the Socialist Campaign Group) was de-selected by his local constituency Labour Party when choosing its candidate for the next general election in favour of Alex Cunningham.

Membership

49th United Kingdom. 50th United Kingdom. 51st United Kingdom.

52nd United Kingdom. 53rd United Kingdom. 54th United Kingdom

He was a member of the Speaker"s Panel of Chairmen in the 2005-2010 parliament.