Joint Statement from Conservative politicians on local government changes

Local Conservative MPs and Councillors have condemned the Government's decision to press ahead with plans to transfer significant parts of historic Leicestershire into Leicester City and force Rutland into a new authority against its wishes, describing the move as a bitter blow for communities across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

"Today's announcement is a bitter blow for the hundreds of thousands of residents across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland whose communities, local services and future will be affected by this decision.

Residents, parish councils, town councils, businesses and community organisations took part in the Government's consultation because they believed their voices would be heard and that they would have a genuine role in shaping the future of local government in our area.

Tens of thousands of people spoke out. The Government listened and then ignored them. It is increasingly clear that Ministers never had any intention of listening to the overwhelming concerns raised by local communities.

That is not localism. It is not meaningful consultation. And it is not how decisions of this magnitude should be made.

Labour has chosen to press ahead with a Leicester City land grab, annexing substantial parts of historic Leicestershire despite the clearly expressed wishes of the people who live there. At the same time, the Government is forcing Rutland into a takeover it does not want.

There are also serious questions about the financial consequences of these proposals. Removing major residential and commercial areas from the county while leaving a new unitary authority responsible for delivering expensive services across large rural areas raises fundamental concerns about long-term financial sustainability.

Labour has put political geography ahead of financial reality, prioritising electoral advantage over creating councils that are financially sustainable and capable of delivering the high-quality public services residents deserve.

Residents are entitled to ask whether they will ultimately pay more, receive less, and see investment increasingly concentrated within an enlarged Leicester City at the expense of surrounding towns, villages and rural communities. They are entitled to ask whether the proposed county unitary will face significant financial pressures from day one as a direct result of this reorganisation.

This was never simply a political campaign. It was a campaign led by local communities determined to protect their identity, their representation and their future. Residents, parish councils, town councils, businesses, community groups and tens of thousands of local people stood together and made their voices heard.

They deserved better than this.

We do not accept this decision and will continue to oppose this Leicester City land grab. We will support every legitimate avenue available to challenge these proposals and continue standing up for the interests of the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Our priority remains protecting local services, standing up for our communities and ensuring that no town, village or neighbourhood is left worse off as a result of these decisions.

Today's announcement is not the end of our campaign. We will continue to fight for our communities, scrutinise every stage of implementation and hold the Government to account for the consequences of this deeply flawed decision.

The Government has made its choice. We will continue to make the case for fair funding, strong local services, genuine local democracy and a future that works for all residents across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland."

Signed by:

Neil O'Brien MP

Alberto Costa MP

Dr Luke Evans MP

Ed Agar MP

Alicia Kearns MP

Shivani Raja MP

Cllr Ben Taylor, Leader Blaby DC

Cllr Simon Whelband Leader, Harborough DC

Cllr Ronan Browne, Leader, Melton BC

Cllr Richard Blunt, Leader, NW Leics DC

Deborah Taylor CC, Opposition Group Leader at Leicestershire CC

Cllr Hemant Bhatia, Opposition Leader, Leicester City Council

Cllr Lucy Stephenson, Opposition Leader at Rutland CC

Cllr Jenny Bokor, Opposition Group Leader, Charnwood BC.

Cllr Richard Allen, Opposition Leader, Hinckley & Bosworth BC

Cllr Naveed Alam, Opposition Leader, Oadby and Wigston BC

Cllr Phil King, Deputy Leader, Harborough DC

Craig Smith, Parliamentary Spokesman for NW Leics