Letter: ‘West Surrey & South Middlesex’ Would Be Entirely Incorrect

Published on: 8 Nov, 2026
Updated on: 8 Nov, 2026

From Mike Truman

In response to:  ‘Crack On With It’: Minister On Inclusion of ‘South Middlesex’ in New Council’s Name

The areas concerned were meant to go into Hounslow in 1965 when Greater London was formed. For reasons best know to themselves they fought a massive campaign not to do so, hoping to remain as some remnant enclave of Middlesex, rather like the Channel Islands is what is left of the Duchy of Normandy. Instead they were hoist by their own petard and found themselves in Surrey.

If they don’t want to be part of Surrey, fine; they can rejoin the rest of what was Middlesex in Greater London as part of Hounslow. But for 60 years they have been in the administrative county of Surrey. That is what is being split into two, hence East and West Surrey.

The Lib Dem councillors from other areas who are supporting this hissy fit should reflect on how their own constituents would react if it were to be successful and this stupid name were foisted on us.

In any case, “West Surrey and South Middlesex” would be entirely incorrect. To be accurate the name would have to be “West Surrey and a small corner of South-West Middlesex”

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