The Association of British Counties has hit out at the government for dropping the name Rutland from its consultation over the future of the county.

The association has claimed that the omission is not an "oversight" – and warns of a return to the "flagrant misuse" of Leicestershire when referring to an area that also covers Rutland.

There are three options on the table for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Two of the options would see Rutland become part of a reimagined Leicestershire Council – while the third proposal would involve the creation of three local authorities.

This option – known as North, City, South – would mean Rutland joining North Leicestershire.

The association said on its website: "This scenario was originally proposed by the district councils and Rutland County Council.

"In their proposals the new councils were to be called North Leicestershire and Rutland Council and South Leicestershire Council. 

"Why has the government bizarrely truncated these names to just South and North? 

"It is hard to avoid the conclusion that North and South mean North Leicestershire Council and South Leicestershire Council.

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"Should we be suspicious of the government's motives of dropping 'and Rutland' from these proposed council names? It can scarcely be an oversight.

"None of this will affect the existence and importance of Rutland itself, of course, but we cannot allow a return to the flagrant misuse of the name of Leicestershire for a council whose area covers the whole of a completely different county.

"Ultimately each new council will be able to amend its name from that given [by the government]. 

"This may provide the best hope for these councils adopting more sensible names."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said that Rutland, along with seven other councils, submitted a proposal for three unitary authorities in the area in November 2025.

It said the proposal was titled 'North, City, South', and the full title of the three unitary councils are 'North Leicestershire & Rutland', 'Leicester City' and 'South Leicestershire'.

The consultation will close on March 26, and final decisions will be communicated to the councils in the summer.

Council leader Gale Waller said last week that she had received the "strongest possible commitment" from the government that Rutland's name would not be lost.

But the MP for Rutland and Stamford Alicia Kearns has said it is naive to assume the county's status is safe.

The MP is in the process of tabling an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill through the House of Lords which she hopes will ensure new legislation will protect Rutland's historic standing.