Piddington, an Oxfordshire village of about 350, voted in a symbolic referendum to "secede" from the UK after plans emerged to house roughly 1,250 male asylum seekers at nearby MOD Bicester. The parish council says it may formally ask the United States to accept the village as a 51st state and has contacted President Trump and the U.S. embassy. Residents cite safety concerns for women, children and the elderly; the government says plans stand but is listening.
Oxfordshire Village Votes To 'Secede' — Parish Council Says It May Seek To Join The US Over Asylum Plan
TOPSHOT – A banner is pictured on the local village hall in Piddington, Oxfordshire, north-west of London on September 15, 2026, as the town of fewer than 400 inhabitants holds a vote in a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK.
Piddington, a small Oxfordshire village of roughly 350 residents, held a symbolic referendum after learning the UK government planned to house about 1,250 male asylum seekers at nearby MOD Bicester. The parish council chair said the village may formally ask the United States to accept them as a 51st state and that a letter and dossier were sent to President Trump and the U.S. embassy.
What Happened
On Sept. 16, 2026, Piddington held a nonbinding vote to "secede from the UK and pursue self-determination." The referendum drew a 91.8% turnout: 285 voted for independence, 26 voted against, and one ballot was spoilt. The vote was organized in response to an Urgent Crown Development application that would transform the adjacent MOD Bicester military base into accommodation for up to 1,250 male asylum seekers.
Local Reaction
Parish council chair Tim McNally told Newsweek the council would press ahead with plans to approach the United States unless the asylum proposal is abandoned. According to McNally, the council has already written to President Trump and delivered a dossier to the American embassy outlining its case.
Local residents pose with a "Principality of Piddington" sign in the village of Piddington, Oxfordshire, England, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, after they voted overwhelmingly to become an independent state in a symbolic "referendum".
Tim McNally, Piddington Parish Chair: "We know conversations have been had with [President] Trump about this."
Councillor Joe Marshall described the plan as "a great idea," arguing the village is beginning its own campaign for representation and appealing to American sympathy. Councillor Michael Nixon said residents had received supportive messages from people across the United States, though the parish has had no direct talks with U.S. officials.
Safety Concerns
Many villagers—particularly women and families—said safety was the primary concern. Parish councillor Susannah Parden told Newsweek that women in the village were frightened because the proposed centre would border the children's playing field and they had limited information about who would be housed there.
Susannah Parden, Parish Councillor: "We know there's a proposal to put 1,250 men there, we don't know anything about them. They will be roaming free. So there's a genuine fear for the security of women and children here because we don't know what it will be like and we're not getting engagement from the government."
Government Response And Wider Context
Newsweek contacted the British Home Office and the U.S. State Department for comment; the U.S. request was sent outside regular office hours. On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the government would not change plans but was listening to local frustrations. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said reducing small-boat crossings remained the priority and noted crossings were at a seven-year low.
PIDDINGTON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: A road leads through the village of Piddington on September 16, 2026 in Piddington, United Kingdom. Yesterday Piddington in Oxfordshire held a symbolic referendum seeking Independence from the UK over the government's plans to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at nearby former military base, MoD Bicester without public consultation.
The debate over asylum arrivals via small boats continues to be politically charged across the UK. Earlier in the month, masked protesters blocked access to the port of Dover, and the immigration-sceptic Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, has polled strongly. Oxford University's Migration Observatory reported 27,900 small-boat arrivals in the year ending Sept. 9, 2026, a decline from the previous year.
What This Means
The Piddington vote is symbolic and carries no legal force: the secession claim would face formidable constitutional and international obstacles. Still, the strong local turnout and high-profile outreach to U.S. figures have turned the village into a focal point in the wider national debate on asylum policy and local consultation.
Photos: Villagers were photographed with a "Principality of Piddington" sign after the vote, and a banner was displayed on the village hall during the referendum period.
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