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Local Government Act 1972 (view source)
Revision as of 21:16, September 25, 2024
, 21:16, September 25, 2024→Evidence that the act did not alter county boundaries
==Evidence that the act did not alter county boundaries==
==Evidence that the act did not alter county boundaries==
There is a persistent misapprehension that LGA 72 either abolished the traditional counties or modified their boundaries (such as Lancashire, with Lancashire County Council's boundaries differing from the county proper). Neither statement is accurate. LGA 72 abolished not one county, nor any of their traditional subdivisions, only abolishing county councils and the various other units of local government. The last statutory instrument to abolish a county was the Hexhamshire Act 1572, which made the county palatinate of Hexham (or Hexhamshire) part of Northumberland. The last Act of Parliament to modify the boundaries of the counties was the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844.
There is a persistent misapprehension that LGA 72 either abolished the traditional counties or modified their boundaries (such as Lancashire, with Lancashire County Council's boundaries differing from the county proper). Neither statement is accurate. LGA 72 abolished not one county, nor any of their traditional subdivisions, only abolishing county councils and the various other units of local government. The last statutory instrument to abolish a county was the Hexhamshire Act 1572, which made the county palatinate of Hexham (or Hexhamshire) part of Northumberland. The last Act of Parliament to modify the boundaries of the counties was the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844.
''[[The Times]]'' newspaper printed a statement from Heath's government in April 1974 which read: "The new county boundaries are administrative areas, and will not alter the traditional boundaries of counties, nor is it intended that the loyalties of people living in them will change despite the different names adopted by the new administrative counties."<ref name="statements">https://britishcounties.org/official-statements/ Official Statements -British Counties Campaign]</ref>
In 1990, the then-Minister of State for Local Government [[Michael Portillo]], during the premiership of [[Margaret Thatcher]], stated: "I can confirm that the Government still stand by this statement,.…that the local authority areas and boundaries introduced in April 1974 do not alter the traditional boundaries of counties. The 1974 arrangements are entirely administrative, and need not affect long-standing loyalties and affinities."<ref name="statements" />
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) features a [[database]] ''Index of Place-Names of Great Britain'' which states "historic counties [...] have remained largely unchanged since the [[Middle Ages]]".
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) features a [[database]] ''Index of Place-Names of Great Britain'' which states "historic counties [...] have remained largely unchanged since the [[Middle Ages]]".