Local Government reorganisation

UPDATE: 6th August 2026

This afternoon, people across Leicestershire and the political spectrum came together at County Hall to protest against Labour’s forced Local Government changes.

Thank you to everyone who turned up, and well done to everyone who is making sure their concerns about these changes are heard!

Find out more here: https://www.drlukeevans.org.uk/news/protesting-local-government-changes

UPDATE: 21st July 2026

Despite the overwhelming concerns raised throughout the consultation, Labour has chosen to press ahead with plans that will see Leicester City's boundaries vastly expanded into parts of Leicestershire.

While the boundary changes, fortunately, do not affect any towns, villages or parishes in the Hinckley and Bosworth constituency, the change to a unitary authority has forced Leicestershire and Rutland into a structure we have repeatedly said we do not want.

I explain the changes here: https://www.drlukeevans.org.uk/news/explains-labour-land-grab-leicestershire

UPDATE: 16th July 2026

This Labour Government are riding roughshod over our area... again.

The other Leicestershire Conservative MPs, Council Leaders and I have released the following statement about the Local Government reorganisation proposals just confirmed in the House of Commons: https://www.drlukeevans.org.uk/news/Labour-Leicestershire-land-grab

UPDATE: 24th March 2026

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete my survey on Local Government reorganisation:

I received over 650 email, paper and online responses, and wanted to share with you some of the key results:

A majority of respondents (73%) have confidence in the current system,
Most of the respondents (60%) believe that Leicestershire County should remain whole, instead of being split into two unitary authorities
The vast majority (87%) of respondents expressed opposition to expanding the city boundaries
Respondents selected highways, planning, social care and education as the local services which mean the most to them

Responses from people across our community have been incredibly helpful in aiding my understanding of where affected constituents stand on this matter.

UPDATE: 30th October 2025

As your Member of Parliament, I work independently of the councils and have little say in how they deliver services.

However, these changes affect all of us as residents, and I want to know what you think of the proposals and how they might impact you.

You can take part in the survey here: https://www.drlukeevans.org.uk/news/local-government-reorganisation-survey

UPDATE: 17th October 2025

My fundamental concern lies with making sure my constituents get the services they so desperately need. This is thrown into jeopardy with the ongoing machinations of personality clashes at the top of the Reform council leadership.

There are huge organisational and financial changes coming, with a Labour Government forcing through not only Local Government reorganisation but a 50% reduction in the staffing structures that support the NHS. These are concerning times.

The leadership must step up and provide a direction on how they are going to solve these challenges.

UPDATE: 14th October 2025

MPs warn of 'death of democracy' as Leicestershire council reorganisation battle intensifies: https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/mps-warn-death-democracy-leicestershire-10571492

UPDATE 29th August 2025

I've warned from the start that Labour's Local Government reorganisation is being rushed through.

First, councils up and down the country were forced into the change, whether local people wanted it or not.

We were told the changes would save money and improve services.

But now we learn that confusion and local disagreement around how unitary councils should look could actually *cost the taxpayer.*

The new Labour Government didn't even re-run the numbers that were from 2020!

'Ministers didn't do cost review of council mergers': https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9wxnlnrxdo

UPDATE: 5th February 2025

As part of the process, councils were marched up a hill by the Government to postpone their elections, only for the Government to change its mind and give just six areas the ability to do so. Areas that aren’t part of this first wave of reorganisation have been thrown into more doubt, as Labour fail to give direction or set out a timescale for the changes. This causes havoc, upset and uncertainty.

I have directly challenged the Secretary of State in the Commons Chamber over the process and asked for a meeting with her, all County and Borough Council Leaders and the Leicestershire MPs to try and work towards the best way forward for our area and residents.

You can find out more here: https://www.drlukeevans.org.uk/news/labours-local-government-proposals

What is Local Government reorganisation?

Following Labour's win at the General Election in July 2024, the Government announced plans for Local Government reorganisation, which would see local councils move from a two-tier authority system to a single unitary authority – Leicestershire is one of those areas.

The reorganisation would see local Borough or District Councils, such as Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council or North West Leicestershire District Council, merge with Leicestershire County Council. This means whatever option the Government eventually picks, Borough and District Councils will be abolished.

However, there has been disagreement locally around what the new authority should look like.

Currently, there are three interim proposals that have been presented to the Government for the area of Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland. The Government’s deadline for final proposals is the 28th of November.

The current proposals are:

- A doughnut: the current city and county boundaries stay the same, but a single Leicestershire unitary is created. All local District / Borough Councils are abolished and come together under one County authority.

- Split the current county: two separate North and South county authorities to be created. The city boundaries would stay the same, but Boroughs and Districts would be abolished.

- Extend the city boundary to take in part of Leicestershire. The city’s estimated population by 2028 is 372,000. This proposal would increase the population to 622,000.

The areas which would be included within the city are: Fosse Park, Glenfield, Oadby, Wigston, Blaby, Whetstone, Syston, Anstey, Leicester Forest East, Kirby Muxloe, Birstall, Thurmaston, Great Glen, and Countesthorpe, among others.

You can read about the Government's plans via its update page, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-government-reorganisation-policy-and-programme-updates