The constituency was created in
1983 from the former seats of
Rutland and Stamford and
Melton. Initially, it covered all of
Rutland and
Melton borough and part of
Charnwood. A boundary change implemented in
1997 saw the area of Charnwood replaced with part of
Harborough district up to the boundary of the city of
Leicester (for example
Scraptoft). The constituency was considered a safe Conservative seat throughout its existence, electing a Conservative with a significant margin even with the 1997 national swing towards the
Labour Party.
Sir Alan Duncan held the seat from 1992 to 2019, when he was replaced by
Alicia Kearns. Further to the
2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, the seat was abolished for the
2024 general election, with its contents distributed as follows: • The
Borough of Melton to the newly created seat of
Melton and Syston • The
County of Rutland and the parts in
Harborough District, including
Thurnby, to the re-established seat of
Rutland and Stamford == Boundaries ==