Barnham villagers vote for referendum on UK secession

Residents of Barnham, a village in Suffolk, have voted to hold a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom. The decision follows government proposals to use the former RAF Barnham base to house approximately 930 asylum seekers, a reduction from an initial estimate of 1,250.

At a public meeting held at the village hall, 73 of the 80 attendees voted in favor of the referendum. Barnham Parish Council chairman John Bauer stated the move is intended to demonstrate the strength of local feeling regarding the government’s failure to consult residents on plans that will change the nature of the village.

This follows a similar symbolic independence vote held in Piddington, Oxfordshire, in September. While the Home Office stated it is listening to local concerns, the Barnham community continues to protest the planned housing of young, single men in an area with a population of approximately 600.