West Surrey-South Middlesex council name was 'written in the stars'

Astrologer Russell Grant has hit back at critics of the proposed West Surrey & South Middlesex council name, saying they should have seen it coming.

The TV personality and newspaper star reader, who writes a weekly astrology column on this newspaper’s website, has been one of the leading campaigners to restore the historic South Middlesex in local government.

At a meeting last week, councillors voted by a large majority to ask the Government to name the new Lib Dem-led authority West Surrey & South Middlesex Council.

Writing in this paper last week, Conservative Leader of the Opposition Cllr Jane Austin called the decision “worrying”, arguing the huge debt the new council will inherit should be the priority. She also called for residents to be consulted over the proposed name.

But Mr Grant said claims that some Conservatives knew little about the proposed change left him wondering how they had failed to see it coming.

Writing on social media, he said: “What a curious Alice in Wonderland situation has arisen in that there are some Conservatives who rather oddly complain they knew nothing about the name change.

“This is odd as Robert Evans proposed such a name change motion on March 17 which was passed at a full Surrey County Council meeting.

“They knew it was coming for at least four months but perhaps even longer as many local Spelthorne councillors were backing it at least a year ago.”

Mr Grant also pointed to previous support for recognising South Middlesex from politicians including Spelthorne Conservative MP Lincoln Jopp and Andrew Rosindell MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Historic Counties.

Liberal Democrat Surrey Heath MP Al Pinkerton has also supported the campaign, while Mr Grant said former foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly had previously raised the issue with ministers.

He added: “How could those who profess they did not know not have known?

“Curiouser and curiouser.”

Cllr Harry Boparai (Liberal Democrats: Sunbury Common & Ashford Common), who has also been closely involved in the campaign to restore the South Middlesex name, backed Mr Grant.

He said opponents needed to accept the decision after 70 percent of councillors backed the motion.

Cllr Boparai said: “Why should the rest of West Surrey have a say over the name? What, exactly, is being taken away from them?

“The people who should have been consulted are the people of Spelthorne, whose identity was overlooked for 61 years.

“They have already delivered their verdict, loud and clear. In May, all 14 successful Spelthorne candidates campaigned on restoring ‘South Middlesex’ to the name.

“The electorate gave us a clear democratic mandate, and we have now delivered on that promise at zero cost to the taxpayer.”

He added: “Recognising South Middlesex is not an attack on West Surrey. It simply acknowledges the distinct identity and history of our area while respecting both identities. Different does not mean divided.”

Spelthorne has been part of the administrative county of Surrey since 1965 but was historically part of Middlesex.

Cllr Austin and 14 other councillors voted against the motion and have since called for residents across the new authority to be given a say over its name.

Responding to Mr Grant and Cllr Boparai, Cllr Austin said: “These comments reinforce why we are disappointed the Lib Dems brought forward this motion at this stage.

“Time spent on a name change is time not spent on the serious task ahead: merging six authorities, managing £4.5bn of inherited debt, and ensuring the new council is ready to deliver from day one.

“Our Conservative group is focused on that task and holding the Lib Dem administration to account remains our priority.

“In this context – on the proposed name change, while we respect Mr Grant’s personal interest and passion, our role as elected councillors is to represent the 700,000 residents across the six councils forming the new authority.

“We must be honest; for most people, they want reassurance our new council will focus on delivering services, with a name that reflects those priorities and that ethos. We will continue to reflect those priorities in our work.

“We continue to engage constructively with all Surrey MPs on this and every issue.”