Over 7,000 signatures appealing for the government to save Rutland ceremonial county status were delivered by Alicia Kearns in Parliament last night.
The MP describes the threat of losing it as an unintended consequence of local government reorganisation and says the only way to protect Rutland County status is to make a change in legislation.
'Rutland is a proud and ancient county record in the Doomsday Book with the Lord Lieutenant since 1559. We have a strong connection to the monarchy symbolised by the statue of Her late Majesty the Queen in Oakham, which was built that last year. The first in Britain since her passing. However, without legislative changes, to the Lieutenancies Act 1997, Rutland will lose our ceremonial county status. Now I do not believe the government intended to put our ceremonial county status at risk, but the consequences of their reforms to local government have done exactly that. No other counties in this position. So despite our small size, 7,141 people have signed this petition in the last six weeks. That is over 17% of Rutland population and more than one in six Rutlanders. It is one of the biggest yet petitions delivered to Parliament in the 21st century and I hope that demonstrates the government how strong the feeling is in our community and in our county. Rutland's motto is multum in parvo, much in little. We are asking for just a little, which would mean so very much to us. The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the government to take into account the concerns of the petitioners and protect Rutland status as a ceremonial county regardless of the outcome of local government reorganisation and devolution. Addition. Protection of ceremonial County of Rutland’.
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