The leader of Westminster council has spoken publicly for the first time about being gay as he announced that he would “marry” his long-term partner.

Sir Simon Milton, 45, who is campaigning to become the country’s most senior councillor, will sign up to a civil ceremony with Robert Davis, 49, at The Ritz next month.

He said that they had decided to go public about their relationship because they felt “the time was right”.

“It’s a very sensible thing for people who are in a relationship to do,” Sir Smon said.

“We’re happy and excited. I would rather tell people myself than be the subject of rumour.”

Sir Simon, a protégé of Dame Shirley Porter who is close to David Cameron, will be standing in July for the chairmanship of the Local Government Association.

“I don’t consider myself a very public figure, but I recognise that in becoming better known, people will probably start to hear about these things,” Sir Simon said.

“I think the public is fairly uninterested in people’s private lives, providing they are not being hypocritical.

He has been with Mr Davis, a senior figure in the Tory authority, for ten years.

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