Lancashire

Lancashire (archaically, the County of Lancaster) is a county palatine of England, lying on the Irish Sea. Its name is sometimes abbreviated to Lancs. Its traditional county town is Lancaster, but the county council is based at Preston. Areas previously administered by the County Council came under the juristiction of West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Cheshire, the new Metropolitan Counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester and the new administrative county of Cumbria.

Rejected options for change

On May 25, 2004 the Boundary Committee for England published recommendations for systems of Unitary Authorities to be put to referendum as described under Subdivisions of England, but on Thursday 4 November 2004 the referendum for the North East decided by a margin of 78% to 22% against an elected regional assembly. On 8 November the Deputy Prime Minister announced "I will not therefore be bringing forward orders for referendums in either the North West, or Yorkshire and the Humber".

Related Topics:
May 25 - 2004 - Boundary Committee for England - Unitary Authorities - Subdivisions of England

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• Statement by Deputy Prime Minister