Piddington Votes for Independence Over Asylum Housing Plan

Residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, overwhelmingly backed a symbolic, nonbinding referendum on whether the village should declare independence from the UK, protesting plans to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military site. Some 285 people voted for independence and 26 against, with turnout reported at about 92%, although the result has no legal force and cannot remove the village from the UK. Campaigners said the proposed facility, whose population would be several times larger than Piddington’s roughly 350 residents, could strain local roads and infrastructure and raise concerns about safety and community life. The Home Office said it was working with local authorities and police to address safety concerns and distribute asylum accommodation fairly. The planning application remained under consideration, with public submissions due by September 17, and similar campaigns had reportedly drawn interest from other communities.