Cook was poised for high office in Brown cabinet

• Robin Cook may have returned to government, it is revealed

• Former Foreign Secretary was in process of making peace with Gordon Brown

• Revelation highlights premature tragedy of Cook's death

Key quote

"They had a chat over a few drams one night and discussed the future. Trade and Industry was mentioned, a brief Mr Cook had much enjoyed in opposition. "But he felt strongly that, as a Scottish MP, he should not take on the post of home secreta" - Ally of Gordon Brown

Story in full

ROBIN Cook was heading for a political comeback in a Gordon Brown government, according to friends of both men who have told of their rapprochement prior to the former foreign secretary's death.

After two decades of rivalry, Mr Cook had been quietly making peace with the Chancellor since January 1998 when news broke of his affair with Gaynor Regan, his then secretary, whom he later married.

There was even a quiet "chat over a few drams," where Mr Brown urged Mr Cook to be patient, and bide his time until Mr Blair stepped down and let the Chancellor form a new government.

Tributes to Mr Cook flowed yesterday, as the political world continued to react in shock to his death after an apparent heart attack while hillwalking on Ben Stack in Sutherland with his wife.

As former colleagues recalled a single-mindedness which won him more admirers than friends in the Commons, it emerged that he had been talking about a return to frontline politics.

An ally of Mr Brown has told The Scotsman that the two had been reaching a detente for years, and had gone as far as discussing possible Cabinet positions for Mr Cook under a Brown premiership.

"They had a chat over a few drams one night and discussed the future," said the friend. Trade and Industry was mentioned, a brief Mr Cook had much enjoyed in opposition. "But he felt strongly that, as a Scottish MP, he should not take on the post of home secretary."

The two also are understood to have met in secret before the general election, again to discuss the terms of Mr Cook's comeback to the Cabinet under a Brown premiership.

"The tragedy is that he died just as he was about to be brought back in from the cold," said another friend of the Chancellor last night.

Martin O'Neill, who has known Mr Cook since the two teamed up to heckle the Earl of Dalkeith in his 1966 election for Edinburgh North, also said Mr Cook was heading for a comeback.

After having seen the damage caused to Labour by infighting in the 1980s, he said, Mr Cook was careful to ensure his criticism of the Iraq war was not exploited by those who wanted to oust Tony Blair.

While Mr Cook had been making friends with Mr Brown "there was more to it than opportunism," said Mr O'Neill. "The Labour party would have been stronger because Robin Cook and Gordon Brown would be jointly making the case for progressive politics."

After his resignation and robust opposition to the Iraq war, it would have been impossible for Mr Cook to have returned to Mr Blair's government, he said. But there would be no such bar with Mr Brown.

The two also had a shared social agenda, and were sceptical about the part-privatisation of public services under Mr Blair's reform agenda.

The only public sign of their rapprochement was in a little-noticed celebration in Livingston Football Club for Mr Cook's 25-year anniversary as an MP. Mr Brown was not only invited, but gave a speech where he heaped praise on his host - saying he was one of the "most influential and successful foreign secretaries" and a "tribute to the Scottish education system".

Such tributes flowed from around the country and the world yesterday as Lord Kinnock, former Labour leader, also predicted that Mr Cook was on course to return to the Cabinet if he had lived.

Lord Kinnock said he was "certain" Mr Cook would have been invited back to the front bench. "And, depending on the post, I think he would have been strongly inclined to commit himself again."

Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations paid tribute to the former foreign secretary as a "partner on a wide range of issues". Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, hailed a "passionate defender of human freedom and dignity".

Tony Blair is understood to be on holiday in the Caribbean - but willing to return to Mr Cook's funeral if the family want him. The Prime Minister is understood to be mindful that his presence introduces security problems, which Mr Cook's widow and his family may not welcome if they want a private ceremony.

Mr Cook's death also will pave the way for a by-election in Livingston - opening a safe seat where Labour is defending a seemingly impregnable 13,000 majority over the Scottish National Party.

The real battle will be amongst potential Labour candidates. Mr Cook was strongly supported by his local constituency group over both his resignation and criticism of Mr Blair - which suggests they would resist a candidate parachuted in from central office.

No-one would speak about the contest publicly yesterday, so soon after Mr Cook's death, but some names were already being mentioned as potential candidates.

Jim Devine, who was for years Mr Cook's agent in Livingston could be in with a chance of getting the nomination. He was close to Mr Cook and accompanied his widow yesterday.

Another candidate is John Duncan, who used to work for Livingston MSP Bristow Muldoon but who now works for SportScotland, a quango which distributes sporting money.

Brave effort to give aid by phone as Gaynor waited on hill for help to arrive

ROBIN Cook's widow, Gaynor, yesterday travelled to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to formally identify the body of her late husband.

Arriving under police escort in a silver Chrysler vehicle just after 1:15pm, she was escorted into the mortuary by two officers and Jim Devine, her husband's election agent.

It is understood Mrs Cook had to go through a formal process of identifying her husband after his collapse on Ben Stack, in north-west Sutherland, on Saturday afternoon.

She spent about 20 minutes in the mortuary building before emerging. Wearing dark glasses and visibly distressed, she made no comment as she left.

Meanwhile, an ambulance operator told yesterday how she guided Mrs Cook through urgent resuscitation techniques for nearly an hour in a valiant bid to save her husband.

Heather MacKintosh, 29, took the initial emergency call at the Inverness HQ of the Scottish Ambulance Service from a man who came across the couple on Ben Stack, in north-west Sutherland. She said: "Mrs Cook was very upset, obviously, but I tried calming her down by getting her to help with her husband."

The first call came at 2:23pm from a man saying Robin Cook had suffered a heart attack 1,500ft up Ben Stack. It is believed Mr Cook had been unconscious for several minutes before the emergency call was received.

Miss MacKintosh said: "Neither Mr or Mrs Cook had a mobile. I don't know who the man who called was - he didn't give his name. But he said the casualty was Robin Cook. He remained very calm. I spoke to him on how to carry out CPR. When he handed the phone to Mrs Cook I spoke to her and she was very upset.

"I tried to reassure her and calm her down. I gave her things to do, to help with the CPR. I was telling her that one person should do the breathing into Mr Cook's mouth while the other carried out the chest compression. Then they swapped about, as it can be very tiring."

While Miss MacKintosh was guiding them through the resuscitation process another operator contacted the police, who organised an airlift with Stornoway Coastguard.

Miss MacKintosh said: "The phone call continued for about 49 minutes. I have never talked CPR with someone for so long before. Usually calls are in the city or towns, and we can get an ambulance out within 20 minutes.

"But with someone on a hill, especially one so remote, it is different. It was quite stressful, especially with Mrs Cook being so upset and having to wait so long for the helicopter to arrive."

She added: "The guy and Mrs Cook did all they could for her husband. Unfortunately, it turned out as it did."

Mrs MacKintosh's boss, ambulance control room manager Graham MacKenzie, praised his member of staff for her efforts.

He said: "At the time of the call we were told it was Robin Cook, the MP, by the caller, who didn't give his name. He said he had suffered a cardiac arrest. Heather went through the CPR which we are all trained to give over the telephone and are duty bound to do until help arrives.

"Another caller contacted police in Dornoch and they decided to get the rescue helicopter. Heather was on the phone for a full 49 minutes, which is a very long time to be giving CPR advice. It was stressful, but she did very well.

"She kept asking if they could see Mr Cook's chest rise, and if air was going in. You have to go through that every second of the call. Someone's life was at stake. It didn't matter if it was Robin Cook, it would have been the same thing if it was you or me. Unfortunately, it did not work out for them."