Village Votes to Leave the UK Amid Battle to Stop New Asylum Camp
Piddington's parish council announced the result at 7am today after villagers went to the polls yesterday to decide whether their community should 'secede' from the UK.
TL;DR
- Villagers in Piddington, Oxfordshire, voted by 92% to declare independence from Britain.
- The symbolic referendum was a protest against plans to house over 1,000 asylum seekers at a former military base in Bicester.
- The proposed number of asylum seekers is more than three times the village's population of around 350.
- Residents expressed concerns about safety, infrastructure, and the impact on their community.
- The vote has no legal force but aims to send a message to the UK government.
- The Home Office is seeking planning permission for temporary use of the Bicester site.
- Politicians from Reform UK and former Conservative figures have supported the residents' campaign.