Michael Cocks

Michael Francis Lovell Cocks, Baron Cocks of Hartcliffe, PC (19 August 1929 – 26 March 2001) was a British Labour Party politician. He was the member of parliament for Bristol South from 1970 to 1987, and was the Labour Party's chief whip from 1976 to 1985.

For other people with the same name, see Michael Cox (disambiguation).

The Right Honourable
The Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe
Shadow Chief Whip of the House of Commons
In office
4 May 1979 – 23 October 1985
LeaderJames Callaghan
Michael Foot
Neil Kinnock
Preceded byHumphrey Atkins
Succeeded byDerek Foster
Chief Whip of the House of Commons
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
In office
8 April 1976 – 4 May 1979
Prime MinisterJames Callaghan
Preceded byBob Mellish
Succeeded byMichael Jopling
Member of Parliament
for Bristol South
In office
18 June 1970 – 18 May 1987
Preceded byWilliam Wilkins
Succeeded byDawn Primarolo
Personal details
Born
Michael Francis Lovell Cocks

(1929-08-19)19 August 1929
Leeds, England
Died26 March 2001(2001-03-26) (aged 71)
Political partyLabour
Alma materUniversity of Bristol

Early life

Cocks was born in Leeds, and was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and Silcoates School, Wakefield. After obtaining a BSc at Bristol University he became a geography teacher and later lectured at Bristol Polytechnic.[1]

Political career

Cocks contested Bristol West in 1959 and South Gloucestershire in 1964 and 1966.[1] He was Member of Parliament for Bristol South from 1970 until 1987, after being deselected as a candidate in 1986 and replaced by Dawn Primarolo, in a challenge from the left.[1]

During his time in the House of Commons, Cocks served as a Labour whip in government and in opposition, being Chief Whip from 1976 to 1985.[1]

Cocks was created a life peer on 6 October 1987, becoming Baron Cocks of Hartcliffe, of Chinnor in the County of Oxfordshire[2] and served as vice-chairman of the BBC 1993–98.

He also served as Deputy Chairman of the London Docklands Development Corporation.[1] As Government Chief Whip from 1976 to 1979 he had the task of ensuring Government majorities for a minority government.[3]

Personal life and legacy

Cocks married his first wife Janet (d.2021), a nurse, in 1954. The couple had four children, Andrew, Helen, Sarah and David, before separating in 1976.[4] He was married to Valerie Davis from 1979 until his death from a heart attack on 26 March 2001, at the age of 71.[1][5]

Cocks is a major character in the play This House by James Graham. The play was first staged at the National Theatre in 2011, with Cocks played by Vincent Franklin.

See also

References
  1. Roth, Andrew (27 March 2001). "Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  2. "No. 51084". The London Gazette. 9 October 1987. p. 12540.
  3. Who's Left?: An Index of Labour MPs & Left-Wing Causes, 1985-1992. Conservative & Unionist Central Office. 1 January 1992. ISBN 9780850710359. Retrieved 7 January 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. Anne King (22 April 2021). "Janet Cocks obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  5. "Former chief whip dies". BBC News. 26 March 2001. Retrieved 3 July 2022.

Sources
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