Residents of Piddington, a village in rural Oxfordshire, have voted overwhelmingly in favour of holding a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom, in protest against government plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby former military base. The vote, held on July 4, saw 175 of the village's approximately 180 adult residents support the move, with only seven against, representing a 96% majority.
Background to the dispute
The controversy centres on a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) storage facility adjacent to the village, which the Home Office intends to convert into accommodation for at least 1,250 single adult male asylum seekers aged 18 to 65. The site, known as Site A, is separated from homes by a fence and lies next to a children's play area and reserve created by the parish council at a cost of £7,000. The Home Office has stated the base will be used for a minimum of 10 years to house illegal migrants claiming asylum, with the first arrivals expected by the end of 2026.
Local residents have voiced concerns over property values—the average detached home in Piddington is worth around £695,000—and safety, fearing that gangs of single bored male migrants could make the streets unsafe for women and children. Many are also angry about the lack of consultation regarding the plans.
The independence vote
The ballot, timed to coincide with American Independence Day, asked: “Do you want a referendum on becoming an independent state?” Nearly two-thirds of the village participated, excluding children. Parish council chair Tim McNally described the result as “truly astonishing” and said it reflected a desire for self-determination. “Self-determination is what people want whilst they are being ignored and driven into a corner,” he said. “The Principality of Piddington, the village that roared, will put together their council and representatives to empower themselves.”
McNally plans to present the result to Cherwell District Council and local MP Calum Miller, with the ultimate aim of seeking a declaration of independence from the US ambassador and then from Donald Trump.
Political reaction
Calum Miller, Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, criticised the plan, stating: “This isolated site is wrong for those seeking asylum and wrong for the villages around it. Ministers must pause the plan, publish a full impact assessment and come to Bicester to explain themselves directly to local people.”
The Home Office defended its policy, saying it is closing asylum hotels and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation, including ex-military sites. A spokesperson said: “We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation including ex-military sites. This is an important step in ending the perception you can arrive illegally and be put up in a hotel.” According to the Home Office, the population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35% in the last year and by 63% from the peak under the previous government, with overall asylum costs falling by nearly £1 billion since the current government was elected.
Figures from March 2026 show that around 20,885 (21%) of asylum seekers were in hotels, while 72,768 (75%) were in other accommodation awaiting decisions on their right to stay in the UK.
