As ever there is a whole lot going on around the traditional counties movement. The end of October brought important Government announcements about its local government reorganisation and devolution programmes in England. We consider the implications of these for the identities of the historic counties. … Continue reading
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Fake 1974 ‘Oxfordshire’, ‘Warwickshire’ and ‘Worcestershire’ go as abolition of ‘county councils’ recommences
On 29th October 2026, Jim McMahon OBE MP, Minister for Local Government, announced that the Government is to press ahead with the reorganisation of local government in England. The programme had been set to replace all the remaining two-tier (county council and district council) areas … Continue reading
County News: September 2026
It may be the silly season but, as ever, there has been a lot happening in the world of the traditional counties movement. Local government reorganisation continues in England and is now ongoing in Scotland too. We look at the implications for the real counties. … Continue reading
Could “county councils” survive as Government announces review of local government reorganisation?
Plans for the abolition of the remaining “county councils” and their replacement by unitary councils have been put on hold by the Ministry for Communities, Housing and Local Government, which has announced it will “undertake a rapid review of the current local government reorganisation programme”. … Continue reading
8 September 2026
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County News: August 2026
We present a bank holiday special featuring the latest stories from the front lines of the traditional county movement. We cover the agony of Rutland’s lost border signs and the ecstasy of Somerset-Dorset border signs found. We look at the frustrating delay plaguing the restoration … Continue reading
30 August 2026
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Council Names Battle: Good News for Bowland, Bad News for West Craven
Good news: the unitary council replacing Lancaster, Preston and Ribble Valley district councils – which was provisionally named ‘North Lancashire Council‘ – now looks set to be called ‘Lancaster, Preston and Ribble Valley Council‘. After 54 years, the Bowland area of Yorkshire will cease to … Continue reading
Why ‘South West Hertfordshire’ fails Potters Bar
Since 1965, the Middlesex identity of Potters Bar has been grievously eroded by its placement under the misleadingly named Hertfordshire County Council. The abolition of this local authority in April 2028 and its replacement by four unitary councils could herald a new era in which … Continue reading
Yorkshire Day 2026 Gallery
Our friends in the Yorkshire Ridings Society could not have dreamt of what they were starting starting 51 years ago. For Yorkshire Day is no longer just the biggest county day celebration but has become England’s largest community event. On 1st August the people of … Continue reading
Victory! We are ‘West Surrey and South Middlesex Council’
We are delighted to report that the shadow council for the new unitary West Surrey Council voted last night to change the council’s name to West Surrey and South Middlesex Council – finally righting a 61 year wrong. This is a double-win, since both Middlesex … Continue reading
31 July 2026
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More County Days of Summer…
County Days come thick and fast in the summer months. It’s hard to keep up! Our thanks to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for once again flying the county flags in Parliament Square for the week of Historic County Flags Day (23rd … Continue reading
28 July 2026
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