Sir Samuel Brittan, economist and writer, dies aged 86

Tributes have been paid to an economist whose views shaped Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government after he died last week aged 86.

Sir Samuel Brittan, who was a columnist for the Financial Times from 1966 to 2014, first won fans in Harold Wilson’s incoming Labour government in 1964, and throughout his career maintained a focus on unemployment.

Born in London to Jewish parents who came from Lithuania, his family shortened their original surname – Brittanowski – as he grew up in Cricklewood, together with his brother Leon, who would later become a Conservative politician.

He and Leon were cousins of Malcolm Rifkind, another Conservative politician, as well as cousins once removed of music producer Mark Ronson.