Rutland and Stamford MP Secures Legislative Victory for Allergy Safety as Campaigning Continues on Multiple Fronts

Rutland and Stamford MP Secures Legislative Victory for Allergy Safety as Campaigning Continues on Multiple Fronts

Local MP Secures Legislative Victory for Allergy Safety as Campaigning Continues on Multiple Fronts By the Rutland and Stamford Democracy Reporter

MP Alicia Kearns

It has been a whirlwind fortnight for local residents and their representative, with major progress secured on a long-standing legislative campaign alongside a packed agenda covering everything from local high street recognition to national security concerns.

Following a tense period of parliamentary back-and-forth, local MP Alicia Kearns has announced that the government has committed to introducing "Benedict’s Law." This critical amendment, which she drafted, aims to bolster protections for children with allergies within school environments. The legislation is named in memory of five-year-old Benedict Blythe from Stamford, who tragically passed away after an allergic reaction at school in 2021.

The path to this victory was far from straightforward. While the amendment faced opposition from the government in the House of Lords, sustained pressure from cross-party peers and campaign groups led by the Benedict Blythe Foundation ultimately forced a reversal. Following intense negotiations, the government agreed to back the measure, ensuring its path into law as the bill returns to the Lords for its final stages.

Beyond the legislative win, there is further cause for optimism regarding the proposed "Child Cruelty Register," a campaign that has received long-standing support from the MP. After years of advocacy, the government has signaled it will now legislate to introduce the register often referred to as "Tony’s Law" which aims to prevent convicted child abusers from disappearing by changing their names or moving locations.

Amidst the high-stakes politics in Westminster, there has been cause for celebration closer to home. The annual Rutland and Stamford’s Favourite Independent Shop Awards saw record engagement this year, with over 41,000 votes cast by residents.

The overall winner for 2026 was announced as Walkers Bookshop in Stamford, a title that highlights the community's dedication to supporting local high streets during economically challenging times.

The broader economic outlook remains a primary focus for the constituency office. Following the Spring Statement, concerns have been raised regarding the forecast for 2026, which highlights halved growth predictions, rising unemployment, and the continued burden of high food and energy costs on households. The MP continues to urge the government to freeze fuel duties to offer some respite to residents and businesses.

Local issues also remain at the forefront. Residents are being urged to submit their views on the government’s public consultation regarding Local Government Re-Organisation before the March 26 deadline. This follows a period of frustration for the MP, who had to repeatedly press the Local Government Minister to secure a meeting to discuss concerns over the potential loss of Rutland’s ceremonial county status.

Other ongoing efforts in the community include:

Heating Oil, coordination with fellow MPs to challenge predatory pricing practices in the heating oil market.

Dementia Support, promotion of the new Rutland Carers Support Group, which will meet monthly at Uppingham Town Hall.

Uppingham Post Office, continued efforts to support the local Community Benefit Society in its bid to secure the future of the vital town service.

In her capacity as Shadow Minister for the Home Office, the local MP has been vocal on several fronts. This includes staunch opposition to government plans to restrict trial by jury for certain offences, which she has labeled an attack on civil liberties.

On the international stage, her recent work has spanned from securing Kosovo’s Presidential Medal of Merit for her support of the nation's sovereignty, to scrutinising government policy regarding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the situation in Venezuela. Following a recent fact-finding trip to Guyana, she expressed reservations about the path toward democratic transition in Venezuela and emphasised the need for a coherent, strategic approach to international interventions.

As the weeks progress, the focus remains firmly on local representation and national policy advocacy. Residents seeking more information on the ongoing consultations or the MP’s recent parliamentary work are encouraged to visit her official website for further updates.

www.aliciakearns.com

For More News, Jobs, What's On, Discover Oakham and More Visit: 

https://oakhamandrutlandnews.co.uk/

Rutland at a Crossroads, The Battle for the Future of England’s Smallest County

Rutland at a Crossroads, The Battle for the Future of England’s Smallest County

Rutland at a Crossroads, The Battle for the Future of England’s Smallest County

For centuries, Rutland has proudly upheld its motto, Multum in Parvo "Much in Little." Today, however, the future of England’s smallest county hangs in a precarious balance. 

As the March 26, 2026, deadline for the Government’s local government reorganisation consultation looms, Rutland County Council (RCC) has officially submitted a robust defence of the county’s identity, setting the stage for a showdown over the region's administrative future.

The Government is currently evaluating three competing visions for the restructuring of Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. These proposals, submitted by local authorities in late 2025, seek to simplify governance by moving towards larger unitary authorities.

The first proposal, championed by Leicester City Council, involves a significant expansion of the city’s boundaries to incorporate surrounding suburbs, effectively creating two unitary councils for the entire region. Rutland County Council has firmly rejected this, describing it as an urban-centric, high-risk model that would leave Rutland as a peripheral appendage, stripping it of its unique rural character and local democratic influence.

A second option, put forward by Leicestershire County Council, proposes merging Leicestershire and Rutland into a single, massive unitary authority while leaving the city separate. RCC has similarly opposed this, warning that Rutland would be reduced to a small minority voice within a behemoth organisation. Drawing on their experience as a district of Leicestershire prior to 1997, the Council argues that such a structure would centralise power and fundamentally weaken the place-based prevention and local responsiveness that currently define Rutland’s service delivery.

The third and preferred path, which Rutland County Council helped co-author, is the "North, City, South" (NCS) model. This proposal suggests restructuring the region into three balanced unitary authorities: the City of Leicester, a North council comprising Rutland, Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, and Melton and a South council. RCC contends that this is the only model that strikes a sustainable balance. By utilising existing district boundaries, the NCS proposal avoids the disruptive redrawing of borders while maintaining Rutland’s identity and providing a proportionate platform for future devolution.

While the Council presents a united front in its consultation response, the political atmosphere within the county is charged. Council Leader Gale Waller has emphasised the extensive efforts made behind the scenes to secure Rutland's future. Yet, these assurances have faced sharp criticism from Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Stamford. Kearns has expressed deep skepticism regarding the Government’s commitment to protecting Rutland’s ceremonial county status, describing recent ministerial assurances as "warm words" devoid of a concrete plan or legislative teeth.

Alicia Kearns has been vocal about the perceived disconnect between the Council’s strategy and the concerns of local residents. Citing survey data, she argues that the public has been largely ignored throughout the process, noting that many residents have expressed strong opposition to merging with Leicestershire and a preference for exploring other regional partnerships. The MP has called for greater transparency and, ideally, a local referendum to ensure that the voices of Rutlanders are not sidelined in the pursuit of administrative efficiency.

As the consultation period draws to a close, the final decision expected by the summer of 2026 carries profound implications. For the Council, the NCS model represents a pragmatic path toward modernising services while preserving the county’s historical integrity. For residents and their parliamentary representative, the struggle is fundamentally about agency, identity, and ensuring that "Much in Little" remains more than just a motto.

To help clarify the structural changes proposed for the region, it is useful to visualise how these boundaries compare, as each model significantly alters the current administrative landscape of Leicestershire and Rutland.

Under the North, City, South (NCS) model, Rutland would be grouped with neighbouring districts into a "North" authority. This map visualizes how the NCS proposal maintains Rutland's external border while shifting the internal administrative grouping to achieve a more balanced population scale compared to the other two proposals.

Regarding the timeline, here is the roadmap for the decision-making process.

The official window for feedback ends on March 26, 2026.

Following the close of the consultation, the Department for Levelling Up will review the thousands of submissions and evidence pieces provided by the councils and the public.

The Government is expected to announce its preferred structural model by the summer of 2026.

Should a model be approved, the transition period including the necessary legislative work to protect ceremonial statuses and establish the new unitary bodies would occur over the following 18–24 months, with the goal of the new authorities becoming fully operational by 2028.

The primary contention remains whether the "North" grouping can truly protect Rutland’s unique rural identity a question that hinges on whether the government provides binding, legislative protections for ceremonial status, rather than just non-binding, "warm" policy guidance.

Rutland County Council Extends Free Travel on CallConnect Through to March 2027

Rutland County Council Extends Free Travel on CallConnect Through to March 2027

Residents across Rutland can look forward to another year of free, flexible public transport as the County Council confirms it will extend its popular CallConnect service until 31 March 2027. This decision follows the welcome news of a new multi-year Local Authority Bus Grant settlement from the Department for Transport, which was announced earlier this month.

The extension is a significant win for a service that has quickly become a vital piece of the county’s infrastructure. Since its introduction, the CallConnect network a Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) solution has transformed how rural residents travel. In its first year, the service facilitated over 17,000 journeys and brought public transport to 20 villages that previously lacked any form of service. By linking these communities to essential destinations such as GP surgeries, schools, shops, and larger transport hubs, the initiative has played a crucial role in reducing social isolation and expanding economic and social opportunities for residents.

Councillor Christine Wise, Portfolio Holder for Transport, Environment and Communities, expressed her enthusiasm for the decision, noting that the extension will continue to provide flexible and reliable transport at no cost to the user. She emphasised that the service is doing more than just moving people; it is actively supporting local mobility, encouraging greener travel choices, and helping the council meet its environmental goals by reducing transport emissions.

This move is a cornerstone of the Council’s 2024 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which remains committed to maintaining a robust hybrid network of CallConnect and traditional bus services. By ensuring that every household in the county retains access to free transport, the Council aims to continue boosting passenger numbers while making it easier for residents to reach workplaces, healthcare facilities, and educational training.

For those looking to take advantage of the service, more information and guidance on how to use the CallConnect network can be found by visiting the official Rutland bus website at www.rutlandbuses.info.

The Final Edition A Changing Chapter for the Rutland Times

The Final Edition A Changing Chapter for the Rutland Times

After nearly five decades as a staple of local life, the Rutland Times will roll off the printing presses for the last time on Thursday, March 19. The announcement marks the end of an era for the physical newspaper, which first began its journey in 1977 as a community free sheet. The title is not disappearing entirely; instead, it is transitioning into a new, consolidated future.

The decision to cease printing follows a trend seen across the regional press, with owners Iliffe Media citing a "double whammy" of shifting reader habits and economic pressure. As more residents move toward consuming news via digital platforms, the rising costs of physical production and distribution have made maintaining two separate local titles unsustainable. In response, a new weekly publication, the Rutland and Stamford Mercury, will launch every Friday. This new title represents a merger of the Rutland Mercury and the Stamford Mercury, promised to carry the "best of" the Rutland Times within its pages.

Reflecting on the paper’s heritage, the Rutland Times was born out of a desire for hyper-local representation. Following its successful launch in the late seventies, it was eventually acquired by Johnson Press, who maintained it as a distinct voice for the county for several years before it passed to Iliffe Media. However, recent years have seen some local pushback, critics noted the paper had become noticeably thinner and often felt dominated by Lincolnshire-based content, mirroring a website that increasingly linked to broader regional articles rather than purely local stories.

Iliffe Media acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the transition but remained optimistic about the path forward. "Very sadly, that will be the last print edition of the Rutland Times," they stated, noting that the move is the "next natural step" in the brand's story. They emphasised that while the delivery method is changing, the journalistic mission is not. Residents can still expect to see reporters and photographers at local events, ensuring that the stories of England’s smallest county continue to be told, even if they now share a masthead with their neighbors in Stamford.

By moving the bulk of its presence online by the end of the month and consolidating its print reach, Iliffe Media hopes to secure the long-term viability of local reporting. As the community prepares to pick up the final copy next Thursday, it marks a moment of reflection on forty-nine years of local history and a look toward a more integrated, digital future for Rutland’s news.