Piddington village votes for symbolic independence from the UK

Residents of Piddington, a village in Oxfordshire with approximately 350 inhabitants, held a symbolic referendum to declare independence from the United Kingdom. The vote, organized by the local Parish Council, saw 285 residents vote in favor of secession and 26 against.

The protest is a response to British government plans to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former Ministry of Defence site in Bicester. Villagers expressed concerns regarding safety, security, and the potential impact on the community's character, noting that the number of newcomers would be nearly four times the current population.

While the referendum has no legal authority, participants celebrated by erecting signs declaring the area the ‘Principality of Piddington’. Government officials, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, stated that while they understand the local sentiment, the plan to use former military bases to reduce reliance on hotels will proceed to ensure asylum accommodation is shared fairly across the country.