Sir Simon Milton dies aged 49

Sir Simon Milton, London’s former deputy mayor for policy and planning, has died at the age of 49. He passed away in a London hospital after a short illness.

Milton was council leader at Westminster City Council for eight years before Boris Johnson appointed him to the deputy mayor role in 2008.

He was also chairman of the Local Government Association and was knighted for services to local government in the New Year’s Honours list in 2006.

During his time at City Hall Milton supported the mayor on strategic planning applications and focused on Greater London Authority budgets as Johnson’s chief of staff.

Paying tribute, Johnson said: “He was a wonderful colleague and friend and will be much missed by everyone who was involved in public life in this city.

“He was kind, he was decent, and he was universally acknowledged to be brilliant at his job.

“He was a widely admired leader of Westminster Council, who played a key role in launching the first academy schools. He brought the same calm, logic and warmth to his role at City Hall.

“It is a great shock that Simon has been taken from us when he had so much still to offer.”