Leader of Camden Conservatives dies at home

THE leader of Camden Conservatives Cllr Martin Davies tragically died yesterday morning aged 45.

The Frognal and Fitzjohn's councillor had recently been elected leader of the group after the May elections and was looking forward to being in opposition.

The cause of death has not yet been confirmed but he is believed to have suffered a heart attack at his Hampstead home.

His colleague Cllr Chris Knight said: "It is a tragic loss for everyone. Martin was a strong character and a natural progression to take over the leadership of our group.

"He was very happy and he was looking forward to the future and we are all in total shock at the moment.

"He was a great guy, a fantastic man to be with and he always encouraged everyone. It is a terrible loss."

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Cllr Keith Moffitt, said: "I was really friendly with Martin and I am really shocked by this.

"I have worked closely with him over the past four years and he was someone who was very hardworking, very focused and very kind. I admired him as a politician and he will be a great loss to the Conservative group."

Labour councillor Heather Johnson said: "I am really stunned by the news. Martin was one of the nicest, most gentlemanly people that you could ever know.

"I was in the opposite party to him but I always considered him as a friend. He was very approachable and very supportive and we worked together on a lot of issues across the political boundaries.

"He will be a great loss for the council and be very sadly missed. I am completely shattered by the news. It is shocking. He was someone whose whole life was filled with good work for the community."

Mr Davies was an accountant by profession and worked for many years as the chief executive of Age Concern Westminster.

Updates to follow.