A village in Oxfordshire with a population of approximately 350 has held a symbolic vote to secede from the United Kingdom, protesting against government proposals to establish an asylum reception center on the outskirts of the community. Residents of Piddington, located about 25 kilometers northeast of Oxford, gathered near the village road sign on Wednesday to celebrate the result with a banner declaring the “Principality of Piddington.”
The referendum was organized by the local parish council to oppose a plan, currently under review, to utilize the disused MoD Bicester (Site A) military facility to house asylum seekers. While the vote carried no legal weight, the council reported that 312 residents participated, representing a turnout of nearly 92%. Of those who cast ballots, 285 voted in favor of secession, 26 voted against, and one ballot was spoiled.
Tim McNally, chair of the parish council, stated that the village would henceforth identify as the “Principality of Piddington.” Speaking to Sky News, McNally emphasized that the protest was about proportionality, questioning how a small rural community could assimilate 1,250 male residents. He accused the government of attempting to rush the project through without adequate consideration for the local population.
Officials from Oxfordshire County Council warned the BBC that locating the facility in Piddington risked turning the area into a “lightning rod” for potentially violent far-right protests. The proposal has also drawn attention from anti-migration influencers online.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who recently assumed office, stated that his government would examine the issues raised by the community and the referendum results. However, he maintained that the “vast majority” of Britons support the strategy to end the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers, arguing that it is equitable to distribute accommodation centers across the country. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also told the BBC that former military bases are a superior alternative to hotels or private rentals.
The Labour government inherited an unpopular policy of housing asylum seekers in hotels and aims to relocate residents to disused military sites by 2029. Critics note that these bases are often situated in remote rural areas, which may present challenges for migrants with limited mobility and resources.
In a fact sheet published in July, the British government described MoD Bicester as a remote site with existing security infrastructure, designed to be largely self-sufficient to minimize impact on neighbors. The Home Office indicated a phased approach to occupancy and confirmed the facility would accommodate males aged 18 to 65 for a minimum of 10 years. Security would be monitored around the clock, and the site would include communal spaces and laundry facilities.
Migration policy remains a contentious issue in UK politics, with populist parties gaining ground amid recent anti-migrant unrest in cities such as Portsmouth. The government stressed that the Piddington plan is still subject to feasibility studies and planning permissions.
The government calling it self-sufficient sounds optimistic for a site with limited mobility access. That’s a real concern for migrants.
Secession from your own country over a housing center seems dramatic. Hope they focus on practical solutions instead.
I’m surprised more attention hasn’t been paid to the feasibility studies. What if the infrastructure can’t actually handle that many people?
Isn’t Bicester just a massive logistics hub nearby? Calling it remote feels like a stretch to me.
312 out of 350 is basically everyone. That turnout shows how angry people are, regardless of whether the vote is legal.