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.
Cocks was born in Leeds, and was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and Silcoates School, Wakefield.
[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.
[3] The couple had four children, Andrew, Helen, Sarah and David, before separating in 1976 and divorcing the following year.
[3][5] He was married to Valerie Davis from 1979 until his death from a heart attack at Southmead Hospital in Bristol on 26 March 2001, at the age of 71.