Piddington, an Oxfordshire village, held a symbolic referendum asking residents 'Do you want to secede from the United Kingdom?' after the Home Office proposed housing up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at nearby MoD Bicester. Polling ran from 07:00–19:00 BST and the non-binding vote was organised by the parish council amid complaints of poor government engagement. The MoD Bicester plans are under public consultation and the village result was due the next morning.
Piddington Holds Symbolic 'Secession' Vote After Home Office Plans For Asylum Housing
Villagers in Piddington are voting over whether the village should leave the UK [BBC]
Residents of Piddington, a small village in Oxfordshire, staged a symbolic referendum after the Home Office revealed plans to house asylum seekers at the nearby former Ministry of Defence site at MoD Bicester. Polling ran from 07:00 to 19:00 BST and the ballot asked voters: 'Do you want to secede from the United Kingdom?'
What the Vote Was About
The Home Office has proposed accommodating up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at MoD Bicester, a site roughly half a mile (0.8 km) from Piddington. The parish council organised the non-binding referendum to register local opposition and to draw attention to what residents say has been a lack of meaningful engagement from ministers.
Local Voices
Tim McNally, chair of Piddington Parish Council, said the government 'does not want to engage with villagers' concerns' and has 'played every possible trick in the book to avoid engagement.' He added that any response must be proportionate to the community's needs.
Outside the village hall, residents described the referendum as a last resort. One villager said: 'We wouldn't do this lightly. It sends a powerful message that we feel ignored and disenfranchised.' Another parent expressed fear for her children's freedom and safety if the proposals go ahead, saying her three boys' previously unrestricted life in the village would change.
Government Position And Planning Details
The Home Office, which announced the Bicester proposal in June, said it is 'working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation.' The department highlighted that former military sites are often 'designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community' and noted plans could include on-site facilities, shuttle buses and links to local public transport.
Tim McNally is chair of Piddington Parish Council [BBC]
The MoD Bicester proposals are currently subject to a public consultation. The department earlier submitted an Urgent Crown Development application to fast-track planning on the basis of the project's declared 'national importance.' Planning documents state the development 'aims to be as self-contained as possible with Service Users having access to a range of essential facilities on site.'
Community Campaigning And Context
On 4 July, a prior village ballot recorded 96% support among participants for holding an independence referendum. Last week 133 women from Piddington wrote to every female Member of Parliament warning that 'life as we know it will be destroyed' and that they would 'not feel safe walking our streets' if the plan proceeds.
Historically, the same Bicester site attracted controversy before: plans for an asylum accommodation centre were abandoned there in 2005 under the then-Labour government.
Next Steps
The referendum is purely symbolic and carries no legal force; organisers said the result would be announced the following morning. The Home Office consultation and any planning decisions will follow established statutory processes.
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