Oxfordshire Village Votes to ‘Leave UK’ in Protest Over Asylum Housing Plan

Residents of a small Oxfordshire village have voted overwhelmingly to symbolically “leave” the United Kingdom in protest against government plans to house more than 1,200 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military site.

Piddington a village of around 350 people near Bicester, held the unofficial referendum on Tuesday after plans emerged to accommodate 1,256 asylum seekers at a former Ministry of Defence facility. Of the 312 residents who voted, 285 backed independence, 26 voted to remain in the UK and one ballot was spoiled.

The vote has no legal force, but organisers say it was designed to send a strong message to the government after residents complained that they had not been properly consulted about the accommodation plans. The village has since jokingly declared itself the “Principality of Piddington”.

Local concerns have focused on the scale of the proposed accommodation compared with the size of the community, as well as questions about transport, security and infrastructure. Parish councillor Mike Nixon has raised concerns about the lack of pedestrian facilities around the site, while Oxfordshire County Council leader Tim Bearder has criticised what he described as inadequate engagement with local residents.

The government says the wider policy is intended to reduce reliance on asylum hotels, which have become increasingly expensive. The Home Office says closing asylum hotels could save taxpayers more than £1 billion and says arrangements are made with local authorities and police to address safety and community concerns.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has defended the use of former military sites, arguing that the country needs a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation. She has also acknowledged that local concerns, particularly around security, need to be addressed.

The Piddington vote highlights the growing tension between the government’s efforts to manage the UK’s asylum accommodation system and resistance from communities being asked to host large numbers of asylum seekers. While the referendum cannot change the government’s plans, residents hope the unusually symbolic protest will put greater pressure on ministers to reconsider how such decisions are made and how local communities are involved.