Statement regarding Cllr Shanika Mahendran

It is with profound sadness that Milton Keynes Labour Party must announce that our dear colleague and friend, Cllr Shanika Mahendran, has died following a short illness.

The speed of her illness and passing has been a profound shock to us, and will be to everyone. Throughout her brief illness, Shanika showed immense bravery, a trait that defined both her life and her work.

She was Cabinet Member for Planning, having been elected to the New Bradwell ward in May 2026, having previously represented Loughton since 2022.

Shanika was a force for change, being nominated for Young Councillor of the Year in 2025, and was recognised earlier this year as one of Planner Magazine’s Women of Influence 2026.

She was a true champion of Milton Keynes, the city she loved. In her Cabinet role, she was responsible for taking forward the MK City Plan for 2050, initiated the Midsummer Festival in CMK and was the leading advocate of our U.K. City of Culture bid.

Her loss is utterly devastating for her family, her friends, her colleagues, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

MK Labour and the Labour Group will share further details on how we intend to honour Shanika’s life and legacy when the time is right. In the meantime, we kindly ask that you respect the privacy of her family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time.

Cllr Lauren Townsend, Leader of the Milton Keynes Labour Group, said:

“We are completely heartbroken at the loss of such a talented young woman, and she will be missed so deeply by so many. Our focus in the coming days and weeks will be on supporting her family. We are determined to carry on her amazing work, making the city she truly loved an even better place."

Chris Curtis MP, Labour MP for Milton Keynes North said:

“Shanika was a brilliant colleague, a dear friend, and we are all devastated by her loss. She has been taken from us far too soon, but in the time she had she achieved so much for our community.

“Her compassion, bravery and drive as a councillor and a local cabinet member helped shape the future of Milton Keynes, and that legacy will continue to be felt for many years to come.

“My thoughts are with her family, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.”

Callum Anderson MP, Labour MP for Buckingham and Bletchley said:

“In a short space of time, Shanika made a lasting and positive difference to our city and to many individual lives. We were fortunate that she chose to dedicate so much of her life to public service.

“Shanika will remain a deeply valued and much-loved member of the Milton Keynes Labour family. She brought energy, wisdom, loyalty and friendship to our movement. Her friends and colleagues loved her dearly.”

Emily Darlington MP, Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central said:

“Shanika was a friend and colleague who loved Milton Keynes and worked tirelessly to promote it.

“Her determination to make our future exciting and innovative can be felt in so many events from Midsummer Festival to MK Tech Week. We have lost a true light of MK far too soon.”