Timeline (Between Iraq and a Hard Place)

25/02/03
The Great anti-war march ends with Robin Cook's speech. Cook declares the governments policy illegal but doesnt resign. He reveals the contents of the government's legal advice. Clare Short declares her support, David Blunkett attacks Cook on BBC news that evening.

26/02/03
Blair appears on BBC to rebuff Cook's attack. He repeats the government's claims about WMD but suggests it's right to attack even if they don't exist. Cook and Short are sacked. All cabinet members express their 100% support for Blair, with 2 notable exceptions; Gordon Brown and Jack Straw

27/02/03
The press back Cook. He is perhaps the most popular man in Britain. In the Guardian a Steve Bell cartoon sums up the mood: Robin cook as a gnome-like St George stands on top of a curled, pink poodle-dragon with Tony Blair's deranged face. Cook has stabbed the dragon in the throat with a fishing rod and blood drips from the wound. A dove flies from the splash mark where the blood hits the desert soil.

28/03/03
The house of commons votes that