Oxfordshire village votes to secede over planned 1,250-bed asylum centre

Secession ballot results

Residents of Piddington, a rural settlement of 350 people located 25 kilometres northeast of Oxford and 80 kilometres northwest of London, held a non-binding referendum on leaving the United Kingdom. Susannah Parden, deputy chair of the parish council, announced the results following the vote on 15 September 2026. The ballot posed the statement asking voters whether they supported Piddington seeking to secede from the United Kingdom and pursuing self-determination. Out of 312 ballots cast, 285 voters backed secession, 26 voted against, and one ballot was spoiled, representing a turnout of almost 92%. Following the declaration, council leaders and residents displayed placards naming the community the Principality of Piddington.

For secession285

Against secession26

Spoiled ballots1

For secession

285 votes

Against secession

26 votes

Spoiled ballots

1 votes

Data from the article text

The MoD Bicester asylum plan

The protest vote responds to a Home Office proposal to convert the nearby disused military site, MoD Bicester Site A, into an asylum reception centre. The facility, located 800 metres from the village edge, previously functioned as a defence storage and logistics depot. Under the government plan, existing buildings on the site would undergo demolition and redevelopment to house approximately 1,250 adult male asylum seekers between the ages of 18 and 65. The Home Office stated that the compound would be designed to operate largely self-sufficiently to limit direct effects on neighbouring settlements.

Local opposition and safety concerns

Opposition in Piddington grew during the summer of 2026, when residents organised demonstrations and 133 female villagers signed an open letter to government officials. Villagers expressed apprehension regarding personal safety, local crime rates, and property values in the surrounding area. Residents pointed to the village's limited infrastructure, which consists solely of a village hall, a 12th-century church, and a sports pitch. Parish council chair Tim McNally questioned the capacity of the small community to absorb the planned population.

“For us, it's about proportionality. How does a small village of 350 odd people assimilate with 1,250 males?”

Oxfordshire County Council member Tim Bearder expressed concern that the proposed centre could attract hostile demonstrations from far-right groups and anti-migration internet personalities. Bearder suggested that the central government should redirect its resources toward processing claims rather than building large containment centres.

“The government spends tens of millions to relocate people. Instead, it should use that money to speed up application procedures so that we can give proper housing to those with a right to stay and send the others back.”

Government response and accommodation strategy

The proposed facility forms part of a broader government policy to transfer asylum seekers out of hotels into former military sites by 2029, following nationwide protests and unrest outside hotel accommodations in 2025. Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged the vote during an official visit, stating that he understood the concerns expressed in Oxfordshire while maintaining that the accommodation policy must proceed. Burnham stated that the public supported closing hotel accommodations and argued that distribution of reception facilities across the country was necessary to achieve an equitable system. The Home Office plans for the Bicester installation remain under review as local representatives press for alternative arrangements.