'Historic moment' as vote backs new council name

A campaign to add "South Middlesex" to the name of Surrey's new west unitary authority has won the backing of councillors.

The shadow West Surrey Council voted 58 to 15 in favour of asking the government to rename it West Surrey and South Middlesex Council.

Supporters say the change would recognise the historic identity of Spelthorne, including Staines-upon-Thames, Shepperton and Sunbury, which were part of Middlesex until 1965.

The proposal was brought forward by Liberal Democrat councillor Harry Boparai who told BBC Radio Surrey this was "a real historic moment".

"We put a 60-year-wrong, right," he added.

Boparai said the issue was about identity as well as ensuring Spelthorne residents felt recognised within the new council area.

"We've never felt part of Surrey - we've been living a lie," he said.

Boparai said recognition was important because communities were more likely to be understood when their identity was acknowledged.

He said: "This is a big, big moment for the 107,000 residents of Spelthorne."

The campaign has attracted support from TV astrologer Russell Grant who has previously criticised the abolition of Middlesex County Council during local government reforms in the 1960s.

Speaking in support of the idea a few years ago, he said he retained a strong sense of belonging to Middlesex and believed historic county identities mattered to local people.

Conservative group leader Jane Austen opposed the proposal.

She said residents had not been consulted on the change and argued the authority should prioritise issues including dealing with inherited debt.

She also said the name West Surrey "did what it said on the tin" and warned the proposal risked creating division.

Boparai rejected concerns about the cost of the change, adding: "This is costing nothing. None of the branding has been done. It was now or never."

Following the vote, council leader Paul Follows wrote to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner asking ministers to approve the change before the authority officially comes into existence in April 2027.

In his letter, Follows said the new name would help ensure Spelthorne residents felt "fully recognised and represented".

The government will now decide whether to approve the request.

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