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  "path": "/news/middlesex-news-historic-county-english-map-abolition",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-06T20:12:58.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Council forced to pay back thousands after overcharging restaurants to put tables outside",
    "Teacher banned after 'sharing inappropriate details' about drunken hen night",
    "Neighbour row erupts over newbuild six-bed mansion after homeowner ordered to demolish it TWICE",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nCommunities Secretary Steve Reed has agreed to examine proposals that would see Middlesex return to England's county map for the first time in six decades.\n\nUnder Labour's sweeping reorganisation of local government, Surrey County Council will be divided into two separate unitary authorities in 2027.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nCampaigners are now pushing for the western portion to be officially designated \"West Surrey and South Middlesex\" rather than simply \"West Surrey\".\n\nThe proposal acknowledges that the Spelthorne area, encompassing towns such as Staines, Shepperton, Sunbury-on-Thames and Ashford, historically belonged to Middlesex rather than Surrey.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe new authority would incorporate approximately 20 square miles of territory that had formed part of Middlesex before administrative boundaries were redrawn in 1965.\n\nThe campaign for the name change has been spearheaded by the Association of British Counties, an organisation established in 1989 by television astrologer Russell Grant.\n\nThe group maintains that residents of Spelthorne have never identified with Surrey and deserve recognition of their millennium-long connection to Middlesex.\n\nA spokesman for the association stated: \"Since 1965, the people of the Spelthorne area of Middlesex have suffered the indignity of being under a local authority absurdly called 'Surrey County Council'.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"But with the abolition of Surrey county council in April 2027, it is time to right this historic wrong and to bring the Middlesex identity of Spelthorne to the fore,\" the spokesman added.\n\nThe association argues that the proud Middlesex towns and villages within the proposed authority's boundaries should have their heritage properly acknowledged in the council's official title.\n\nMiddlesex existed as a formal county from the 10th century, having emerged from the territory of the Middle Saxons who settled in Britain long before the Norman Conquest.\n\nThe county was abolished in 1965, with the majority of its land absorbed into Greater London while a small section around Staines and Shepperton was transferred to Surrey.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Council forced to pay back thousands after overcharging restaurants to put tables outside\n  * Teacher banned after 'sharing inappropriate details' about drunken hen night\n  * Neighbour row erupts over newbuild six-bed mansion after homeowner ordered to demolish it TWICE\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe matter was raised in Parliament by Lincoln Jopp, the Conservative MP for Spelthorne, who told the Commons: \"I have received a huge number of representations from constituents who would like the Secretary of State to consider calling that unitary authority West Surrey and South Middlesex, to take account of the fact that Spelthorne has been in Middlesex for 1,000 years and has never really thought of itself as being in Surrey.\"\n\nMr Reed responded: \"I am always happy to consider proposals made by the honourable gentleman, and I will ensure that he gets an appropriate meeting on the point that he has raised, either with me or one of my fellow ministers.\"\n\nMiddlesex Heritage, another group championing the cause, submitted its views during a public consultation on the matter.\n\nMr Grant, who founded the organisation, explained that Spelthorne's distinct identity stems partly from its position north of the River Thames, which has served as the ancient boundary between Middlesex and Surrey since Saxon times.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe noted: \"Culturally, many clubs and organisations are parented to Middlesex county groups and associations.\"\n\nMr Grant added: \"Our group backs the idea that the new unitary council be named West Surrey and South Middlesex council, which recognises the new authority's area covering parts of two proud historic counties, namely Surrey and Middlesex.\"\n\nThe ultimate decision on the council's name will be taken following elections for the first councillors in May.\n\nThe new authority is scheduled to assume its responsibilities in 2028.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHowever, Middlesex is not the only part of the country pushing for changes to the 1965 boundary review.\n\nReform's Romford MP Andrew Rosindell continues to campaign for the London borough of Havering to return to Essex.\n\nIn a social media post last month, Mr Rosindell said: \"Havering can and should return to being independent from City Hall control and become a fully unitary authority once again.\n\n\"Unlike now, we should only pay for the services we actually receive. The Freedom Pass we already pay millions for separately, it is not given to us by the Mayor of London.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Historic county poised to return to English map six decades after being abolished"
}