Parkinson, Cecil (Edward) (1931– )

British Conservative politician, chair of the Conservative Party 1981–83 and from 1997. He was a minister for trade and industry, but resigned in October 1984 following the disclosure of an affair with his former secretary Sarah Keyes, which resulted in her pregnancy. In 1987 he rejoined the cabinet as secretary of state for energy, and in 1989 became transport secretary. He left the cabinet when John Major became prime minister in 1990 and later announced his intention to retire from active politics and enter business. He received a life peerage in 1992.

In 1997 at the request of the new Conservative Party leader, William Hague, he returned to politics.