Freeport names board replacement following high-profile departure

Councillor Lee Breckon / Leicestershire County Council

Councillor Lee Breckon has replaced Councillor Nick Rushton on the East Midlands Freeport board after the Leicestershire County Council leader resigned over plans to build a logistics hub on greenfield land near Diseworth.

Councillor Rushton described plans to bring forward a major industrial development on land between the A453 and Clements Gate as an “ill-advised afterthought” and resigned after fellow board members resolved to press ahead despite his opposition.

Councillor Breckon has served Blaby District, which encompasses Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester Forest East, Leicester Forest West and Thurlaston, since 2011. He is Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Leicestershire County Council.

East Midlands Freeport Chair, Nora Senior CBE, told TheBusinessDesk.com: “Councillor Rushton served as a founding member of the Board of East Midlands Freeport, which agreed the submission and application in 2021 for the UK’s only inland Freeport to be based in its current location.

“Councillor Rushton recently tendered his resignation as he felt conflicted in representing both the Freeport Board and his constituents in Diseworth given his intention to stand for re-election in the forthcoming local elections. We have welcomed Councillor Lee Breckon to replace Leicestershire County Council on the EMF Board.

“We look forward to working with Councillor Rushton and our local communities to ensure wider economic benefits are delivered through the opportunities presented by the Freeport, particularly for our young people, bringing highly skilled quality jobs to the region as well as supporting the innovation around decarbonisation and net zero to which we all aspire.”