Villagers hold symbolic independence vote as protest over asylum‑seeker camp, spark blueprint for other councils

In Oxfordshire’s village of Piddington, about 350 residents voted 285‑26‑1 in a symbolic referendum to declare independence from the United Kingdom as a protest against a Home Office plan to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at the nearby former Ministry of Defence Bicester site. The vote, organised by parish council chair Tim McNally, was accompanied by calls for extra security measures such as wireless CCTV and patrols, and residents expressed concerns about safety and infrastructure.

Following the referendum, more than 500 parish and town councillors have contacted McNally seeking guidance, and he has produced an eight‑step “Piddington blueprint” outlining how communities can stage similar referendums and present results to MPs. The Home Office has opened a public consultation on the housing proposal, while officials such as Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Mayor Andy Burnham have noted that the referendum carries no legal force.