Village votes to leave the UK

Piddington's 350 residents held an unofficial referendum on declaring independence from Britain. The symbolic vote protested Home Office plans to house 1,256 asylum seekers at a nearby MoD site.

“The politics of our country are broken on so many levels. And we're sending our message back to Westminster.”

Battle for Britain 2026

The vote took place on September 15, Battle of Britain Day. Bunting with Union flags and RAF roundels hung outside the village hall, which had been converted into a polling station.

Every voter chose to leave

When polls closed after 12 hours, every single voter the Daily Mail spoke to said they had chosen to leave the UK. The mood at the village hall was jubilant.

Rupert Lowe turned away twice

Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe arrived at the village hall with supporters at 7:30pm. The Great Yarmouth MP was denied entry twice and left after just 15 minutes.

A veteran's son speaks out

Herbert Owen, 76, voted for independence with tears in his eyes. His father fought in WWII, became a POW, and served in Korea. Owen said his father would be turning in his grave.

“Our Government has betrayed that generation of men.”

The Ladies of Piddington

Victoria Hubbocks, 39, was among women who wrote to every female MP pleading for support and declaring they wouldn't feel safe. Just four MPs replied.

“We will not feel safe walking our streets. We are already living in fear.”

Safety concerns dominate

Residents cited reports of sexual violence near other asylum sites like Wethersfield and Crowborough. The local police are 45 minutes away, raising fears about response times.

“Most people already don't sleep well at night.”

A storage warehouse, not barracks

The MoD site isn't even a military barracks. It's a storage warehouse with no sewage, water, or electricity. Taxpayers will fund converting it into accommodation.

“It's wholly unsuitable and the taxpayer will have to pay to convert it into accommodation.”

Redacted facility details

Home Office documents redacted details about which facilities will be provided onsite, like gyms and sports pitches. It remains unclear how expensive the renovations will be.

Hi-vis jackets for migrants

Planning documents reveal migrants will have access to essential facilities and will be given hi-vis jackets for protection on narrow country roads if they leave the site.

A murky cover-up

Reform MP Sarah Pochin described the government's plans as a murky cover-up when she visited Piddington alongside former Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman.

The 2005 precedent

Previous plans to turn the Piddington site into asylum accommodation were dropped in 2005 after being deemed no longer economically viable. That plan was for just 800 people.

Almost double the original plan

The Home Office now thinks Piddington can absorb almost double the 2005 number. The only explanation is a migrant crisis spiralling out of control and Labour government desperation.

Property values plummet

Residents worry they won't be able to give their properties away, though they say property prices are the least of their worries right now.

No say in the matter

The community feels the asylum site will fundamentally change how they live their lives. They've had no say and received no reassurance from the government.

“The community will completely change. And we've had no say in the matter.”

About 300 eligible voters

Around 300 people were eligible to vote in the symbolic referendum. Many in the elderly community cast ballots by post, while others came to the village hall.