Britain’s smallest county could disappear under Rayner’s plans

of local government.

The Deputy Prime Minister wants to cover the country with councils looking after 500,000 people but Rutland, England’s smallest county, has a population of just 41,000.

The district has been referred to as a county since the 12th century, but it was merged into Leicestershire as part of Edward Heath’s controversial reforms of 1974.

Following a public campaign, Rutland was reborn in 1995 as a unitary authority.

into larger ones.

The proposals have led Leicestershire to call for its merger with Rutland to be restored.

Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP for Rutland and Stamford, said: “Angela Rayner and the bureaucrats have launched an assault on rural communities – stripping Rutlanders of our identity appears to be next on their quest for legacy and riding rough-shod over local accountability.

“Rutland is a very special place, we are intensely proud of our county and community, and we don’t take kindly to being railroaded.

“People are flabbergasted they may have to fight for their county again. Smaller can be better, we’re the top-rated council in the country for social care, the issue councils up and down the country are struggling with most.”

Ms Kearns has called a public meeting in Oakham – the county’s main town – in two weeks’ time to discuss the implications of the Deputy Prime Minister’s plans.

She said: “The proposals put into doubt the future of Rutland as a county council.

“I want to hold a public meeting to ensure Rutlanders understand what the Government is proposing, the potential outcomes of their proposals as I understand them at this time and what different stakeholders are proposing in response to the required re-organisations.”

Counties ‘are not arbitrary lines’

Chaz Ellis, whose father was a part of the Rutland independence campaign in the 1990s and drove a lorry round the county to popularise the movement, said: “The idea that we might have to fight for it again is both disheartening and galvanising.

“It’s frustrating to think that Rutland’s autonomy might be dismissed as inconsequential once again.

He added: “Historic counties are not arbitrary lines, they are the result of generations of shared traditions, heritage, and community.”

Mr Ellis said that if the county were merged into Leicestershire, its “distinctive character and needs might be eroded, neglecting what makes our county special”.

Last week Leicestershire county council said it wanted to see one unitary council to cover the city of Leicester and another covering rural areas of Leicestershire along with Rutland.

Local district councils and Rutland issued a response citing their disappointment, saying nothing had been decided.

Rutland’s voice could be lost

owing to its small population.

She said: “This is not the only way to slice our East Midlands cake. We have population similarities with the Harborough villages, with Melton.

“Is there not a case to be made for two smaller unitaries covering our geography, firmly placing our growing populations at the heart of local democracy?”

Gale Waller, the leader of Rutland county council, was also open to compromise.

She said: “Reorganising local government has the potential to deliver efficiencies and there is a need to ensure councils are sustainable.

“However, the success of a council is heavily influenced by the critically important relationship between scale and physical geography. We cannot dismiss this.

“Councils work best when their boundaries reflect the way people live their lives, where they go to work, learn, shop, spend their leisure time and get healthcare.”

Gerard Dugdill, the campaign manager of the British Counties Campaign, said that if reorganisation must happen, the name of Rutland must be preserved in the name of the new authority.

He said: “Those supposedly in charge must be stopped from further meddling.”

Under Mr Heath’s reforms in the 1970s, a number of historic counties such as Cumberland and Westmorland were abolished and new counties such as Humberside and Merseyside were formed.

Ms Rayner’s local government reorganisation will delay local elections in up to 18 counties and districts this May, so that they can take place when the changes are complete.

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