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To: The UK Government

Pam's County Petition: Get Back Our British Counties

PETITION AND CAMPAIGN VIDEO: https://britishcounties.org/video

RESTORE the historic British counties to their rightful place. Make sure they are properly recognised, signposted and marked. Use them as a fixed frame of reference, for a variety of purposes, across all media.

*IF YOU are signing the petition, please state a reason why. This helps us know why people are supporting the campaign. Many thanks.

Why is this important?

THE 92 traditional - some say "historic" - counties of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales often date back more than a thousand years. They are an important part of the culture, geography and heritage of the United Kingdom. The public understand what they are, and they help create an identity that binds communities together. 

Since the 1960s-70s, in particular 1974, huge confusion has been caused to county identity in England, Scotland and Wales through successive legislative acts seeking to change administrative areas. 

These acts have eroded the role of the historic counties in the life of our nation, despite assurances by successive governments that the counties would be preserved as the basis for local identity.

All this has happened against the wishes and despite the protests of ordinary people, who have been forced against their will into living in new so-called administrative or "ceremonial" areas that do not correspond with their true county. 

We want - and need - legislation to ensure there is just one type of county in this country, namely the historic one. We seek to achieve this by removing all other "county" definitions, and by aligning all ceremonial boundaries to those of the historic counties.

Further, great care must be taken with the names of councils and service areas all over the country, and the counties must be marketed to preserve them into the future.

Pam Moorhouse, who started the petition in 2015, says: “I remember in 1974 when the government sent people all over the country setting up new councils and telling people they had to live in new areas. This was completely against the people's wishes. It upset millions. Why was this acceptable or fair?

"To this day, councils continue wiping out our history and denying it, on TV, in the media, in schools, even in museums, but people feel loyalty towards their traditional area. It is also vital young people know about what happened, otherwise our history will be lost forever. 

"People, not the government, should decide where you live. We need to make sure the changes of the past are undone. We need to get our counties back, and make sure this never happens again. 

“Please feel free to get in touch with your comments. All views are welcome. If you agree with the petition, please sign it. We want an initial 100,000 signatures to help get the support of enough parliamentarians to get our bill enacted.

"We look forward to your support."

You can find additional information on our website, comment on our social media pages, or contact British Counties Campaign chair Gerard Dugdill: [email protected] or call +44(0)7900 267988

If you want to contact Pam directly, please click on her name on the top left of the petition page and fill in the form.

Website: https://britishcounties.org/

NB. The map shows the 92 traditional counties of the UK.

www.britishcounties.org/video

How it will be delivered

To the government, online and printed names.

Links

Updates

2022-06-15 13:55:00 +0100

From Pam. https://www.englishdemocrats.party/starmer_investigated
Comment should be at end.

2022-06-14 18:02:59 +0100

https://www.englishdemocrats.party/national_petition_england-only_prescription_charges?utm_campaign=prescription_petition_140622&utm_medium=email&utm_source=englishdemocrats

Pam says: Anything but the counties.

2022-05-30 16:34:38 +0100

In relation to this post, https://www.englishdemocrats.party/royal_scots_fusiliers

Having seen our video [ www.britishcounties.org/video ] seen our promoting stand at your conferences, and heard our talks about the traditional counties, so realise how Edward Heath's Government FORCIBLY removed them and made us have gov-created counties instead, now used for everything, despite a massive public protest, why do you only promote and use the 1974-created counties? Why is this fair? Pam Moorhouse.

2022-05-23 07:25:10 +0100

Hi Everyone, If you are over 60 and lived somewhere in Britain on April 1st 1974, can you 'shout' about what Edward Heath did to our traditional counties so everyone knows? He sent 'agents' all over the country to FORCE everyone to give up their traditional county inherited from our ancestors and used for everything up to then, saying 'we're not having traditional counties anymore, so you've got to give them up and have new ones.' No one wanted the change, so by media/councils only 'shouting the new county names' they made us. Today as people are told that the 1974-created counties have always existed, the pre-1974 counties, along with our identity, culture, history, is being lost forever! So, tell others, tell your MP, shout, as this was SO very unfair! Sign our petition at; www.pampetition.com see our 10 min video, where various supporters say why the pre-74 counties are important, at; www.britishcounties.org/video

2022-05-10 11:09:43 +0100

Bad news from Les B [candidate], as he said no-one else mentioned the NEL [North East Lincolnshire] problem. But in Asda's some people are bothered. You can find them if you ask, not everyone of course. Some older people are bothered, and if you tell the young, they can be interested.

Andy lives in Gt Manchester, but frequently visits Grimsby with having parents and property here. He muddled me saying he lived in Manchester. No, Oldham. The silence of course 'converts' everyone.

Fifty years ago no one wanted any change, so they ignored and then 're educated,' and today they 'fob off,' keeping the new counties. They say 'Historic Fountains Abbey in N. Yorks'. Or when the U3A had an outing to Saltaire, the driver gave a leaflet saying 'West Yorks'.

The 'People's Friend' editor refused to discuss it, and 'Yours' tells of 60 years ago 'Z Cars' started with fictitious Mside, when it was Lancs.

Fed up. Pam.

[email protected]

2022-05-08 16:22:00 +0100

PS from Pam. Thanks, I DO long to hear the old county refs again.

2022-05-08 16:02:02 +0100

Promoting the traditional counties.

Hi Everyone, Why can't you, as you are all in the public eye, 'shout' about the traditional counties, and what happened in 1974, as they are never mentioned, even historically, so consequently are unknown to millions, as only the 1974-created counties are pushed? Millions who remember the pre-1974 ones, long to hear about them again. So, why not, as it may then encourage to media to use them?
As it is I get sick of only hearing 'West Yorkshire,' with no 'Ridings' mention. Why? Neither Edward Heath who FORCED the change, is here, and if to please the EU, we left in 2016...
Thanks. Pam Moorhouse.

2022-04-08 18:45:36 +0100

If you buy the 'Daily Mirror' 'Grand National Race information all you get is 'Merseyside' refs. What is wrong with 'Liverpool, Lancashire?' No one knows this anymore.

2022-04-08 18:20:23 +0100

Check this out, first 10 minutes https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000zt46/house-of-lords-16092021

2021-09-20 15:54:44 +0100

Send us feedback on the video if you can, or email about the petition to [email protected]

2021-08-20 11:25:51 +0100

Here is the link to the video
www.britishcounties.org/video

2021-07-21 17:22:24 +0100

Stand by for our county campaign video, TRADITIONAL COUNTIES - THEIR STORY AND DEMISE!, due to be released in the next few days.

2020-12-04 14:31:06 +0000

Awaiting feedback on the newly created "historic counties" APPG (all party parliamentary group), to see if it will help any, and planning our North East (Northumberland and Durham) launch for the second week of Jan, plus Scottish launch for slightly later in the year. Regards

2020-09-25 14:09:20 +0100

Proposals are being drawn up to form an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) to restore the counties, led by Henry Smith, our current lead MP. Watch this space!

2020-09-24 18:52:25 +0100

Happy Westmorland Day. We are now launching a series of county days, associations and business pages linked to our "County Business" project. We shall of course work wherever possible with existing initiatives. Under development. www.countybusiness.uk

* A portion of the signature total has been collected offline and has not yet been verified by 38 Degrees.