Former Tory cabinet minister Cecil Parkinson, 84, dies after cancer battle

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

The Tory grandee served in a variety of senior posts in Margaret Thatcher's governments.

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."