Tiny village votes for 'independence' from UK amid asylum seeker row
4 hours ago
- Residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, voted overwhelmingly for symbolic independence from the UK, with 285 in favor and 26 against, in protest over plans to house 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military base.
- The vote, dubbed 'Battle for Britain', had a 92% turnout and was framed by locals as a broader national protest, not just about their village.
- Villagers expressed fears for safety, especially for women and children, citing the site's lack of pedestrian access, busy roads, and inadequate infrastructure like flooding risk and poor utilities.
- Parish councillor Mike Nixon criticized the government's proposals, noting the site's unsafe road conditions and recommending against pedestrian access, despite suggestions of high-visibility jackets.
- Residents like Herbert and Jennifer Owen felt ignored by the government, which skipped public consultation, and called for other parish councils to follow suit.
- MP Rupert Lowe supported the villagers and advocated for deporting asylum seekers or housing them in offshore tented camps, while the Home Office defended the plan, citing cost savings and alternative accommodation.
- The referendum has drawn significant media attention, with the village hall hosting journalists, highlighting the symbolic nature of the vote against UK asylum policy.