Second Leicestershire MP joins urgent call for talks about future of local government with minister

A second Leicestershire MP has added her support to a call for an urgent meeting with the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution about Local Government Reorganisaton and devolution in Leicestershire.

Less that 24 hours after a joint press release was issued by Cllr Phi Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, Samia Haq, Leader of Oadby & Wigston Borough Council and Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Stamford has added her voice to request an urgent meeting with Jim McMahon, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution who has not yet responded to requests from Cllr Knowles and Neil O’Brien MP.

Following a meeting today with Cllr Phil Knowles, Alicia Kearns MP agreed that urgent action must be taken, firstly to avoid the cancellation of county council elections due in May this year, and she dispatched an urgent letter to the Minister of State.

Alicia Kearns MP said: “We had a full and frank meeting this morning and we agreed that the Government has to engage with districts and boroughs in Leicestershire about Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution. It is the democratic thing to do. I hope my letter helps to assist with the minister agreeing to an urgent meeting.”

Cllr Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “The matter of Local Government Reorganisation is serious and has the potential to impact on our communities for years ahead. It’s imperative that we talk about the way forward with the minister, communication is vital.”

A joint press statement issued over the weekend confirmed that Neil O’ Brien MP and the leaders of Harborough District Council and Oadby & Wigston Borough Council have come together to call on government minister Jim McMahon MP to listen to the residents of districts and boroughs in Leicestershire, to meet the council leaders and to stop riding roughshod over local democracy. 

Neil O’Brien MP said: “I am pushing the minister to get around a table with Cllr Knowles, Cllr Haq and other district and borough leaders. This doesn't always happen but we are as one, the minister must talk with us. People here don't want to see our local councils abolished and it is wrong that this is being done to local people by central government, without people here even being asked. Worse still, government are talking about potentially cancelling the elections here. They have no mandate to do this."

Cllr Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council says he wants people to email Mr McMahon - jim.mcmahon.mp@parliament.uk - with a simple and straight to the point message. “Dear Mr McMahon. Keep the Local in Local Government, Ditch the Donut idea for Leicestershire and talk with the district and borough leaders and our MPs and don’t cancel the county elections. Democracy must be done and be seen to be done.”

Cllr Samia Haq, Leader of Oadby & Wigston Borough Council said: “The minister is forcing local communities to lose their identities with no engagement and no conversation, it’s a political rush job which will lead to a bodge job, this is not what the country voted for! Stop, listen, talk!”