# Tories and Reform clash as asylum centre approved

> Government approves plans to house 1,200 asylum seekers at a military base near Piddington, sparking a political row and a legal challenge from villagers.
- Title: Tories and Reform clash as asylum centre approved | Shortify
- Summary: Government approves plans to house 1,200 asylum seekers at a military base near Piddington, sparking a political row and a legal challenge from villagers.
- Keywords: asylum seekers, piddington, oxfordshire, military base conversion, zia yusuf, chris philp, angela rayner, legal challenge, immigration policy, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/nov/13/planned-asylum-centre-near-oxfordshire-village-legal-challenge-piddington
- Published: 2026-11-13T15:25:38+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: asylum seekers, piddington, oxfordshire, military base conversion, zia yusuf, chris philp, angela rayner, legal challenge, immigration policy, news, world
## Government approves asylum centre
Angela Rayner, the housing and communities secretary, approved full planning permission to convert a defence site near Piddington into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers.
## Tory and Reform politicians clash
Zia Yusuf and Chris Philp raised their voices and spoke over each other in front of TV cameras and locals for more than three minutes in Piddington village.
## Yusuf demands apology for record
Zia Yusuf urged Chris Philp to apologise for his record as an immigration minister. Yusuf said Philp brought hundreds of thousands of people into the country illegally.

> Chris, would you like to apologise for the things you did in government to bring hundreds of thousands of people into the country illegally?
## Philp calls for solidarity with residents
Chris Philp said they should stand in solidarity with residents and urged Yusuf to read the room. As voices grew louder, Philp said: you are in a hole, stop digging.

> You are in a hole, stop digging.
## Villagers plan legal challenge
Tim McNally, the parish council chair, said villagers would launch a legal challenge within six weeks. They may also apply the Hillsborough law to compel transparency from public officials.
## Home Office defends the plans
The Home Office said the government is closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation including former military sites. These are designed to be self-contained with twenty four seven security and CCTV.
## Key takeaway

The government approved converting a military base near Piddington into asylum accommodation for over 1,200 people, prompting a clash between Tory and Reform politicians and a legal challenge from residents.