‘Shameful’, 'a slap in the face' and ‘sensible’ – Leicester and Leicestershire MPs and councillors react to Leicester boundary expansion

Leicester’s major boundary change has divided MPs and councillors, with some saying a bigger city is “shameful” while others claim the move is “sensible” and will deliver for residents.

Senior leaders in Westminster announced the move on Thursday (July 16) as part of its local government reorganisation initiative.

It will see Leicester City’s boundary expanded to include areas of Oadby, Wigston, Syston, Enderby, Great Glen, Braunstone Town, Blaby, Anstey, and Glenfield.

Additionally, all district and borough councils are set to be abolished and replaced by a single authority for Leicestershire.

Many MPs and councillors have reacted with “fury” over the news, while others have called it “sensible”, saying the move will deliver “better outcomes” for residents.

Cllr Simon Whelband, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “Today's decision is a slap in the face for the people of Harborough.

“The Government has chosen to ignore the views of local communities and press ahead with a land grab that residents neither wanted nor voted for.

“This proposal has been opposed by Harborough District Council, local MPs, parish councils and residents across our district. We made it abundantly clear that there is no local mandate for taking communities out of Harborough and forcing them into Leicester City. We fought this proposal at every stage. We took our case directly to Ministers. We made the arguments. Sadly, the Government simply chose not to listen.

“As recently as this week, I challenged the Local Government Minister directly and made the strength of local feeling absolutely clear. It is now evident that those concerns fell on deaf ears.

“I am also appalled that the Government has chosen to announce this decision on the final sitting day before Parliament rises for the summer recess, denying MPs the opportunity to properly scrutinise or challenge this decision in the House of Commons.

“Harborough District Council will continue to work throughout the transition to protect local services, represent the interests of our district and ensure our communities are treated fairly.

“To our communities, my message is simple: Harborough District Council will not walk away. We are now looking at every option available to us, which includes legal challenge.”

Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “The sensible expansion of Leicester’s historically constrained boundary was always our preferred option for the Government’s reorganisation of local government in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

“Leicester has grown dramatically over the last century, and the boundary extension confirmed by Government will finally reflect that growth.

“This is by no means an exceptional measure. In the 1970s, many English cities had their boundaries extended. Leicester wasn’t one of them. As a result, we have been one of the most tightly constrained major cities in the UK.

“The Government’s decision to extend the city’s boundary will belatedly bring us into line with other cities, removing the illogical and confusing split that exists in our built-up urban area.

“It will give people who live in the surrounding areas, just beyond the existing border, a much greater say in the governance and future of the city which will be good for local democracy.

“These two new, larger unitary authorities will deliver more efficient and cost-effective council services in ways that better reflect where people live and will support the future growth and prosperity of both our city and county.

“We will be working closely with other councils to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for both residents and staff.”

Labour MP for North West Leicestershire, Amanda Hack, also said the new councils will “make it easier for local people to hold decision-makers to account”.

She added: “Together, this will deliver better outcomes, better value for taxpayers and pave the way for a devolution deal that can unlock Leicestershire’s full potential”.

However, other MPs have reacted much differently to the news. Reform leader of Leicestershire County Council Dan Harrison said he was “furious, shocked and bitterly disappointed” by the expansion.

He added: “We’ve always been clear that an expanded city would be costly and disruptive. Financially and strategically, this is madness and it’s not the right decision for Leicestershire.

“This is a disastrous day for democracy. No one wanted this. No professional oversight has been given to the effect on Leicestershire residents of the city’s land grab and our residents haven’t been listened to.

“We’ll be taking legal advice on launching a challenge to Government to make sure residents are at the heart of the decision.

“Our professional officers will get on with the job. But this is reckless and we’ll continue to fight for those residents who’ve been let down by the Government today.”

Conservative MP Neil O’Brien, who represents Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, said that people didn’t want to “lose their local identity”.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The arrogance is incredible. On his last day in the job the minister announced huge damaging changes to our community which he knows local people oppose. It isn’t just the higher council tax, people don’t want to lose their local identity.

“But London-based ministers who know nothing about our area think they know better than us, and are forcing it on us. It is disgusting and we we fight this all the way”

A spokesperson from the North Leicestershire Green Party also called it “outrageous”, saying the decision “ignores local people”.

They said: “Residents were asked for their views time and time again, and every time they said no to expanding the city boundary. The Government has ignored them and gone ahead anyway.

“One of the few things almost every major political party in Leicestershire agreed on was that this was the wrong decision. This isn’t local democracy, it’s the Government deciding it knows better than the people who actually live here.”

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Michael Mullaney, also called the decision “disgraceful”.

He added: “It’s the Labour government delivering to their mate, the Labour Mayor, a massive land grab for Leicester. It’s the worst of all worlds. A hugely expanded Leicester city with many people being dragged from the county into the city and the rest of Leicestershire lumped into all one authority.

“It’s a shameful decision. The government said it was about devolution and giving people more of a voice. This decision is the opposite it’s making decision making further from people and giving them less of a voice

“We are about to have a new Prime Minister who says he believes in devolution and local decision-making. If he really believes that he should rip up these plans for Leicestershire and go back to the drawing board.”

New “shadow elections” for councillors in the new authorities are set to take place in May 2027 after all Leicestershire councils are set to be abolished.

New councils are expected to be set up by April 2028.