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Piddington betrayal: Rayner approves migrant camp despite protest vote
Angela Rayner approves migrant camp in Piddington despite villagers' vote to leave UK.
In brief
Angela Rayner approves migrant camp in Piddington despite villagers' vote to leave UK. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved plans for a migrant camp at MoD Bicester, ignoring a village referendum where residents voted to leave the UK in protest. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Piddington referendum
Residents voted in September to leave the UK in protest against asylum seeker housing plans.
“Residents voted in September to leave the UK in protest”
Rayner approves camp
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved plans for a migrant camp at MoD Bicester.
“Angela Rayner has approved plans for a controversial migrant camp”
Camp capacity
The camp will house up to 1,256 single male migrants at MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire.
“The Housing Secretary gave the green light to plans to house up to 1,256 single male migrants”
Local opposition
Residents sued the government over the decision to build the camp despite their protest vote.
“Ms Rayner decided to override those concerns despite residents suing the Government”
Wildlife concerns
Campaigners claimed the Home Office broke the law by ignoring potential wildlife threats.
“Campaigners claimed the Home Office broke the law by ignoring the potential threat to wildlife”
Government response
The government promised to end hotel use for asylum seekers and use former military sites instead.
“The Government has promised to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers”
Other sites
Two sites are already running: Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough in East Sussex.
“Two are up and running, Wethersfield in Essex, and Crowborough in East Sussex”
Shadow Home Secretary
Chris Philp criticized Rayner for using emergency powers to force camp on rural village.
“Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary, said: 'Angela Rayner and the Labour government have betrayed the people of Piddington and Bicester by abusing their emergency powers in this way'”
Home Office statement
Home Office says planning permission allows camp progress but final decision is pending.
“A Home Office spokesman said: 'Planning permission allows us to continue to progress the use of MoD Bicester'”
Prime Minister's stance
Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged affluent areas to 'play their part' in housing asylum seekers.
“Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that people in more affluent areas of the UK must 'play their part' in housing asylum seekers”
MoD Bicester site
The site was used as an MoD equipment storage facility before housing asylum seekers.
“The MoD Bicester site, one of three ex-military locations where the Home Office is proposing to house a total of 3,750 asylum seekers, was used as an MoD equipment storage facility”
Village context
Piddington is a 350-strong village with no shops or facilities beyond a church and community hall.
“It is situated next to Piddington Reserve, a field where children play football and locals walk their dogs, on the edge of the 350-strong village that has no shops or facilities beyond a church and community hall”
Other sites planned
Sites at Barnham in Norfolk and Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire are also identified but decisions pending.
“Alongside MoD Bicester, sites at Barnham in Norfolk and at Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire have also been identified. It is believed that decisions on these have not yet been made”
Village protest
Residents unveiled a 'Principality of Piddington' sign after voting to become independent.
“Local residents pose with a 'Principality of Piddington' sign in the Oxfordshire village following the referendum result”
Government cost savings
The government claims over £1 billion saved in costs since the election through asylum accommodation changes.
“The Government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1billion saved in costs since the election”
In short
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved plans for a migrant camp at MoD Bicester, ignoring a village referendum where residents voted to leave the UK in protest.
