Former Tory minister Lord Parkinson dies aged 84 after long cancer battle

Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Romilly Weeks

Former Tory minister Lord Cecil Parkinson has died aged 84 after a long battle with cancer, his family has announced.

Twice Tory Party chairman, Parkinson played a crucial role in the Tories' landslide election victory of 1983.

But his stellar political career was overshadowed by his affair with his one-time secretary Sara Keays.

He was the only minister to remain loyal to Margaret Thatcher's ideals throughout her 11 years in power.

A family spokesman said: "Cecil passed away on January 22 after a long battle with cancer.

"We shall miss him enormously. As a family, we should like to pay tribute to him as a beloved husband to Ann and brother to Norma, and a supportive and loving father to Mary, Emma and Joanna and grandfather to their children.

"We also salute his extraordinary commitment to British public life as a member of parliament, cabinet minister and peer - together with a distinguished career in business."

David Cameron has expressed his "deep sadness" at the news. He said Lord Parkinson was "a man of huge ability" and that "he was part of a great political generation that did extraordinary things for our country."

Conservative politicians, including Chancellor George Osborne, have also paid tribute to Lord Parkinson on Twitter.

Lord Parkinson's political career was overshadowed and all but destroyed by his affair with Miss Keays.

Miss Keays had a daughter as a result of the affair called Flora, and she repeatedly claimed that Lord Parkinson reneged on a promise to leave his wife and marry her.

In her book, A Question Of Judgment, Miss Keays claimed that Lord Parkinson had "begged" her to have an abortion and that he had "haggled over every pound" of support.

However, Mr Parkinson himself repeatedly claimed that he had voluntarily made more than adequate provision for Miss Keays and their daughter.