News In Brief

British trade minister quits over affair with secretary

British Cabinet minister Cecil Parkinson resigned Friday to stem controversy over his long-running affair with his secretary and to save Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher further embarrassment.

Mr. Parkinson quit as Secretary for Trade and Industry nine days after publicly disclosing the affair with Sara Keays and that she is expecting his baby. Mrs. Thatcher, who at first insisted there was no question of him being forced out of office, finally accepted the resignation of the man who was once regarded as a possible future prime minister.