Residents of Piddington, a village near Bicester in Oxfordshire, are set to participate in a symbolic referendum to express their opposition to the use of a local site for housing asylum seekers. There is no legal framework in the UK that permits a village, town, or city to declare independence. Therefore, the referendum, scheduled for Tuesday, is intended as a symbolic gesture to make the village's voices heard.
The initiative has drawn attention from national political figures, including shadow home secretary Chris Philp and shadow minister for women and equalities Joy Morrissey, who met with residents on the village green. Reform UK MPs Sarah Pochin and Suella Braverman have also engaged with the concerns raised by the village. Pochin and Braverman were among the MPs who responded to an open letter penned by 133 female residents of Piddington.
In their letter, the group of women described facing a "crisis" and warned that their "safety, security and freedoms will be under threat," stating that "Life as we know it will be destroyed" and that they would "not feel safe walking our streets." They also expressed a sentiment of "living in fear."
The Home Office has stated that the "concerns of communities" are central to its immigration reforms. A spokesperson confirmed that the government is in the process of closing asylum hotels and transitioning asylum seekers into alternative accommodations, including former military sites designed to be self-contained to minimize impact on local communities. The Home Office also indicated that engagement with local authorities and police forces is part of this process to ensure the safety and security of surrounding areas.
One resident, Gloria Brown, who has lived in Piddington for 23 years, voiced concerns about the potential impact on her mental health and sense of security. She mentioned that she takes "lots of pride" in litter-picking in the village and expressed that the situation makes her feel "imprisoned in my own village."
The government spokesperson further detailed efforts to house asylum seekers fairly across the country, estimating savings of over £1 billion on asylum support since the election due to the closure of asylum hotels. The use of former military sites is part of a strategy to manage accommodation while engaging with local stakeholders.