The people of Piddington in Oxfordshire have voted overwhelmingly to become an independent state in a symbolic ‘referendum’ after the Government announced plans to house 1,256 male asylum seekers nearby
An Oxfordshire village, which could become home to more than 1,000 asylum seekers, has voted overwhelmingly in favour of becoming an independent state in a symbolic “referendum”.
The residents of Piddington have chosen to secede from the UK following the Government’s announcement of plans to accommodate 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military base. A total of 285 villagers supported “independence”, with a turnout of nearly 92%.
Only 26 inhabitants voted against the proposal, with one spoiled ballot noted. The result was declared by a returning officer to a crowd of journalists and locals gathered outside the village hall on Wednesday morning.
A banner reading Battle for Britain 2026 is also displayed outside the hall, alongside another marking the date of the Second World War military campaign, the Battle of Britain, on September 15, 1940.
Speaking to the Press Association as villagers cast their votes on Tuesday, parish chairman Tim McNally said the vote represented “hope” for the community.
He stated: “Yesterday was the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, and for us, it was the battle for Britain. We’ve been identified as ground zero for a whole number of issues.
“I just want to say something to Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of this great, great country that we’re in, the Speaker of the House of Lords, Speaker of the Commons, Kemi Badenoch, who is the leader of the opposition and all shadow oppositions: this is an example of democracy in operation.”
He continued: “On the 3rd of July, when we started this process, we went into this village hall as what we call the underdogs, not knowing how we were going to go forward and actually fight against this plan, we had a plucky idea.
“We had an idea that we would grow as people, and what I consider as definition of done, is this. This is definition of done. We have given an absolute message, not just to the region, not just to the country, but to the world.”
When questioned about whether he would become prime minister of Piddington, Mr McNally insisted he had “no intention of having such a leadership status”, but announced the village would now be recognised as “the Principality of Piddington”.
A placard bearing the village’s unofficial new title was then unveiled outside the hall, while a campaign anthem composed by the village played in the background, featuring the words: “It’s the battle for Britain, and Britain roars.”
He stated: “It doesn’t matter whether they’re priests or vicars, the proportionality isn’t acceptable. Your house value has dropped. We’ve had a number of house deals cancelled. We’ve had banks pull mortgages.
“We’ve had people who’ve got pensions in their properties have to be revaluated, because the value of their property is no longer what it was.
“That’s not about saying this is a wealthy area, this is no more wealthy than any other village around the country, but people work very hard, and they worked hard to earn what they’ve made, and they should be entitled to have what they’ve made.
“But overnight, to have that destroyed, ultimately, is disgraceful, and we’ve had no involvement in that process to determine what it means for us.”
Parish councillor Mike Nixon revealed the site lacks proper pedestrian access routes, with the Government suggesting asylum seekers be given high-visibility jackets to keep them safe while walking along a dangerous road.
He told PA: “The nearest path is about a mile and a quarter away, down a very busy road that’s unlit. Their (the Government’s) own document says it’s not recommended that pedestrian access is used, so they’re proposing that residents would use the shuttle bus service from the site.
“And to further discourage them, they’re suggesting that should they walk, they would be issued high-vis jackets, and that’s the only mitigation for the residents’ safety.
“The road itself, the B4011, is a busy road, 50-mile-an-hour speed limit, but vehicles will regularly go in excess of that, so it is likely that there would be significant risk of road traffic collisions, injury, or even death, should the plan go ahead.”
Mr Nixon added the suggested location is susceptible to surface water flooding, has an inadequate sewage drainage system, and lacks sufficient electrical supply. Speaking to PA after casting his vote on Tuesday, Herbert Owen, affectionately known as Herbie in the village, stated that the independence referendum “isn’t just about Piddington”.
Mr Owen, 76, said: “It means everything our grandparents, our parents fought for – today is the Battle of Britain. This isn’t just about Piddington, this is about our whole country.
“This Government is destabilising our country. Wherever they put these people, in camps, in HMOs, or whatever, they’re ruining people’s lives.”
A representative for the Home Office previously stated: “The Government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1 billion on asylum support since the election.
“We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites which are designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community.
“As part of the process, we engage with local authorities and police forces to ensure the safety and security of those in the surrounding area.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.