Alicia Kearns MP has officially presented our community’s petition in Parliament to save Rutland’s ceremonial county status.
Alicia’s petition to save Rutland has been signed by 7,141 concerned individuals. This represents 17.4% of Rutland’s population (41,000) and more than 1 in 6 Rutlanders. The petition is one of the biggest wet-signature petitions Parliament has received in the 21st Century.
Alicia, Charlie Pallett the Rutland Blogger and the George and Dragon in Seaton together launched the #SaveRutland Petition urging the Government to protect the ceremonial county of Rutland. This followed Government proposals to abolish two-tier authorities and small unitary councils like Rutland County Council to create larger unitary county councils.
Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford, said:
“This presentation marks the culmination of six weeks of community spirit and determination.
“Whilst online petitions achieve tens of thousands of signatures in days, it is deeply uncommon for physically signed petitions to reach over a few hundred, so the size of our petition is a real tribute to our communities.
“What Government doesn’t understand is the unintended consequences of the Local Council Re-Organisation mean that without a small law change, Rutland’s ceremonial county status will not be protected - we are the only county in this situation.
“That is why I have fought to bring this petition to Parliament, until we receive the assurances we need from Government with a specific action plan for how to save our ceremonial county status.”
