# English village votes to leave UK over asylum plan

> Piddington residents held a symbolic referendum after the government proposed housing 1,250 asylum-seekers at a nearby former military base.
- Title: English village votes to leave UK over asylum plan · Newsweek
- Summary: Piddington residents held a symbolic referendum after the government proposed housing 1,250 asylum-seekers at a nearby former military base. Local…
- Keywords: piddington, oxfordshire, bicester, uk home office, asylum-seekers, immigration, labour government, andy burnham, shabana mahmood, ministry of defense, referendum, local planning
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/english-village-votes-to-leave-uk-over-plan-for-migrants-piddington-oxfordshire-12448050
- Published: 2026-09-16T07:42:12+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: piddington, oxfordshire, bicester, uk home office, asylum-seekers, immigration, labour government, andy burnham, shabana mahmood, ministry of defense, referendum, local planning
## Village votes to leave UK
Piddington residents voted 285 to 26 to symbolically become independent from the UK. The nonbinding referendum was triggered by plans to house 1,250 male asylum-seekers nearby.
## Former military base in Bicester
The Home Office wants to convert a former Ministry of Defense site near Bicester into an asylum center. No final decision has been communicated yet.
## 92 percent turnout shows anger
Of 350 residents, 311 voted in the symbolic ballot. One villager called it "the Battle of Britain," while the parish chair said it sent a message "to the world."

> We are Piddington the village that roars
## Government bypassing local planning
The Home Office wants to use Urgent Crown Development to let the Home Secretary bypass local authorities. The move aims to save over £1 billion by closing asylum hotels.
## No consultation, falling house prices
Villagers say they weren't consulted on the plans. House prices have dropped, banks have pulled mortgage agreements, and pension property values have fallen.
## Labour blames inherited backlog
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said poorer communities shouldn't shoulder the asylum burden alone. She reminded Piddington that Labour inherited a massive asylum backlog.

> we inherited a massive asylum backlog
## Key takeaway

Local communities are pushing back against government asylum plans they say were imposed without consultation, even holding symbolic independence votes.