Residents of Piddington, a small village in Oxfordshire, England, have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a symbolic referendum to “secede” from the United Kingdom. The local vote was organized in protest of government plans to establish an asylum reception center at a nearby disused military facility.
According to the Piddington Parish Council, 312 of the village’s approximately 350 residents cast ballots in the vote, representing a turnout of nearly 92%. The referendum held no legal authority and asked participants whether they supported Piddington seeking self-determination and seceding from the UK. The results saw 285 residents vote in favor of secession, 26 vote against, and one ballot spoiled.
Tim McNally, chair of the parish council, stated following the vote that the village would informally identify as the “Principality of Piddington.” Speaking to Sky News, McNally questioned the scale of the government’s proposal, citing concerns regarding proportionality between the village’s 350 residents and the proposed center, which is expected to house up to 1,250 male asylum seekers. McNally also accused the government of rushing the implementation process.
An official with the Oxfordshire County Council separately warned that the proposed facility could draw heightened tensions, telling the BBC that the plan risks turning both the village and the site into a focus for potentially violent far-right demonstrations.
The UK Labour government has been working to phase out the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers—a system inherited from prior administrations—in favor of repurposed military sites by 2029. Disused military facilities are frequently located in rural areas, which can pose practical logistical challenges regarding transportation and integration for asylum applicants.
Government ministers defended the policy while acknowledging local concerns. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that the government would examine the specific issues raised by the Piddington community and the referendum results. However, Burnham emphasized that the broader British public supports moving asylum processing out of hotels, arguing that distributing holding centers across different parts of the country remains a fair approach.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC that former military bases represent a preferable alternative for accommodating asylum seekers compared to hotel usage or private rented housing.
Sources
– [DW News](https://www.dw.com/en/uk-village-votes-to-secede-in-asylum-center-plan-protest/a-79295826?maca=en-rss-en-world-4025-rdf)
Source: DW News
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Story synopsis gathered from: DW News — source
