Former UK minister Cecil Parkinson dies of cancer at age 84

Former UK minister Cecil Parkinson dies of cancer at age 84FILE – This is a July 7, 1988 file photo of the then British Energy Secretary Cecil Parkinson outside 10 Downing Street in London. The family of former British Cabinet minister Cecil Parkinson said Monday Jan. 25, 2016 that he has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 84. The family said he died Friday Jan. 22. (Tony Harris/PA, File via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE

LONDON (AP) — Cecil Parkinson, who held senior posts in the British government under Margaret Thatcher until forced to resign amid a sex scandal, has died. He was 84.

Parkinson’s family said he died Friday after a long battle with cancer.

Parkinson served former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in a number of senior positions. He managed the Conservative Party’s successful 1983 election campaign and became a trusted confidant of Thatcher.

He was made Secretary of State for Trade and Industry but stepped down after it was revealed that he had got his former secretary pregnant. She claimed he had promised to marry him and that he had pressured her to have an abortion, but she refused.

Thatcher brought him back to another Cabinet post four years later but by then his career had peaked and was widely viewed as in decline.

Parkinson served in the House of Lords until he retired last year after he became ill.

He began his career in Parliament in 1970 and also had a successful career in business.

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