Three more Rutland County Councillors, including Rutland County Council Leader, Oliver Hemsley, have left the Conservative Group this week.

On the 22nd of April 2022, Cllrs Nick Begy, Gordon Brown, and June Fox all resigned from the Conservative party, simultaneously removing the Conservative majority from the Council and creating a stir within Rutland.

The trio, along with Cllr Paul Ainslie who left the Conservative party at the end of last year, have set up their own political party, Together4Rutland. 

Since then, Rutland County Council Leader Oliver Hemsley has announced that he is leaving the Conservative Group with immediate effect. He will continue in his role as Leader of the Council, while serving as an unaligned independent councillor.

Two other Cabinet Members, Cllr Samantha Harvey and Cllr Ian Razzell, have also left the Conservative Group to serve as independents.

Cllr Hemsley said:

"Over recent months it has become clearer that we need to do what we know is right and reflects the role that we hold. Lead by example is always key and is important for us to remember. Rutland has for many years been asking for fairer funding, we don't want more than others we just want it to be equitable, we need to be shown some respect, I know we are all busy but today we have lost sight of the reason why, I stood to represent my Ward, and this week I have been told I am failing, why is this because I have been unable to stop a housing development in the ward, we have many issues in the country and I am impressed on the one hand on what we have achieved and on the other hand deeply saddened that we continue to ignore the inequalities and the people we serve. We need to relearn the art of listening nationally and locally.

Moving forward we have Devolution, Levelling up, Health Care, Education and more all items that will need strong leadership and a consensus and reflecting on what people need, I encourage all councillors to reposition their political motivations as we all have strengths that can make Rutland continue as Multum in Parvo, and stability is what is needed at this time and for all of us to work together to protect and enhance the county we all love and hold the responsibility to represent."

Cllr Samantha Harvey added: "My concern has been that national events have been mirrored on a political local level, where I have experienced several instances of unethical behaviour, misogyny, and disrespect among members."

This flurry of party resignations not only puts an end to the Conservative majority in Rutland County Council, but leaves only 6 Conservative members out of the 27 on the Council representing the party.

This announcement came from Cllr Hemsley as the polls were being taken for the Uppingham Ward election that saw Stephen Lambert (Liberal Democrat) victorious.