Oxfordshire Village Votes for Independence in Protest Against Asylum Camp Plans

Residents of the small Oxfordshire village of Piddington have voted overwhelmingly in favor of declaring independence from Britain. The symbolic referendum, held to protest plans for a large asylum seeker camp, saw 92% of ballot papers returned, with 285 votes in favor of secession and 26 against.

While the vote has no legal standing and does not remove Piddington from the United Kingdom, campaigners hope the gesture will signal their strong opposition to the proposed asylum accommodation at a former Ministry of Defence site in Bicester. The Home Office is seeking permission for the temporary use of the Bicester Garrison site to house up to 1,256 asylum seekers, a number more than three times the village's population of approximately 350.

Parish council chairman Tim McNally described the referendum as the 'Battle for Britain,' stating that the community felt they were 'Ground Zero for a whole number of issues.' He emphasized that the vote was an example of democracy in action and a clear mandate against the proposed development, which he believes would drastically alter the village.

The scale of the proposed development has raised significant concerns among residents, who argue that local infrastructure and road networks are inadequate for such a large influx. Parish councillor Mike Nixon highlighted issues with road access, noting the lack of pedestrian areas and street lighting on the busy road leading to the site. The government's own travel plan for the site acknowledges 'limited' pedestrian access and advises against walking.

Residents expressed fears about safety and the transformation of their community. "This is not about being rich or poor, this is about safety," said Melise Witkin, a resident. "People have worked really hard throughout their lives to live in this village. We are 356 people in the village with 46 children and 1,250 men turning up is a recipe for disaster."

This referendum follows a previous vote in July, where 96% of participants supported holding an independence referendum. The date of that initial vote, July 4, was deliberately chosen to coincide with American Independence Day. In the lead-up to the recent vote, 133 women from Piddington wrote to female Members of Parliament, warning that "life as we know it will be destroyed" if the plans go ahead and that they feared for their safety.

The Home Office stated that it is working to house asylum seekers fairly across the country as it transitions away from the use of hotels. A spokesperson added that the government engages with local authorities and police forces to ensure the safety and security of surrounding areas. The application for planning permission for the Bicester site is still under consideration, and no final decision has been made.

The symbolic vote has attracted attention from national politicians. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has indicated support for similar symbolic votes in other communities, and former Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited Piddington to voice her opposition to the plans. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also met with residents, expressing concerns about the potential impact on local safety.