Protesters chant against Leicester city expansion plans outside Downing Street
Around 40 protesters from across Leicestershire held a demonstration outside Downing Street opposing the government’s council reorganisation plans.
The residents and villagers held signs and shouted: “One, two, three, four. Keep the city from our door.”
One of those showing support was Mark Frankham, who has lived in Willoughby Waterleys for 60 years.
He said: “I am not against making efficiencies within the council, but this is the single biggest reorganisation, it is going to fall apart from the bottom. We are nine miles away from the city, in the middle of fields. This cannot be swept under the carpet.”
The protest was followed by MPs giving in a petition against the plans to Downing Street.
Leading the demonstration was Tom Smith, the founder of Hands Off Leicestershire campaign group.
He told the Harborough Mail: “We’re a non-political group of concerned residents who don’t want to see the city land-grabbing into Leicestershire.
“They’re worried how that’s going to affect local services - water, doctors, schools, access to hospitals.
“The government can be stopped, and the government will have to listen.
“Until they’re listening enough to stop the land grab altogether, we’re not giving up.
“Harborough is quite a historic spot, and they’re worried about funding for heritage and wildlife sites as well.”
Danuta Jeeves, who stood as the Reform UK candidate for Oadby, Wigston and Harborough in the 2024 General Election, also made the trip to Westminster.
She is now the East Midlands regional director of GB PAC, a right-wing pressure group.
She said: “Our villages are established communities.
“We’re going to have no benefit whatsoever by joining up. Only the city is [going to benefit].
“The county councils have run a lot better than the city councils. They just want our money and the land.”
Earlier this month, the government announced it would put plans on pause and review the reorganisation after backlash.
Leader of the opposition at Leicestershire County Council, Deborah Taylor added: “I think it’s quite telling that more than 40,000 people across Leicestershire and Rutland, including people from Leicester City, don’t want this to go ahead.
"[The government] knows what it means to people, so I hope they take notice. They should listen to the voice of the people.”