Villagers in Piddington have backed calls for the community to secede from the United Kingdom in a non-binding ballot prompted by Government proposals to accommodate asylum seekers at a decommissioned military installation in the vicinity.
The Oxfordshire settlement, situated close to Bicester, conducted the referendum on Tuesday, offering residents the opportunity to express their opposition to Home Office plans for up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at a former military base in the area.
A significant majority of those who participated supported the motion for independence, with 285 inhabitants voting in favour out of a total electorate of approximately 350.
The participation rate reached almost 92 percent, with only 26 ballots cast against the proposal and one spoilt paper recorded.
The outcome was formally declared outside the village hall on Wednesday morning.
Parish chairman Tim McNally addressed journalists and locals following the announcement, describing the exercise as representing hope for the community.
He drew comparisons between the vote and the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, stating that for the village, the occasion marked a fight for the nation.
McNally acknowledged various political figures, including the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Lords, the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the Leader of the Opposition, before asserting that the ballot demonstrated democracy in practice.
McNally explained that the initiative had commenced on 3 July, when villagers entered the hall as underdogs without a clear strategy for challenging the accommodation proposal.
He expressed pride in how residents had united and grown throughout the process.
When questioned about potentially assuming leadership of an independent Piddington, McNally stated he had no intention of occupying such a position, though he declared the settlement would now be referred to as the Principality of Piddington.
A sign bearing this unofficial designation was subsequently displayed outside the venue while a campaign song with the refrain about Britain roaring played in the background.
The parish chairman elaborated on concerns regarding property values, noting that numerous house sales had fallen through and mortgage providers had withdrawn financing.
Some homeowners with pension arrangements linked to their properties required revaluations following decreases in market values.
McNally insisted this was not a reflection of affluence, as Piddington was no more prosperous than other rural settlements, but rather concerned individuals who had worked hard for their assets and faced overnight devaluation without any consultation.
Parish councillor Mike Nixon outlined additional safety considerations, pointing to the absence of pedestrian infrastructure near the proposed facility.
According to Nixon, the nearest footpath lay approximately one and a quarter miles away along a busy, unlit carriageway.
He stated that government documents themselves acknowledged pedestrian access was inadvisable, with officials instead proposing a shuttle bus service.
Nixon noted that residents choosing to walk would be provided with high-visibility clothing as the sole safety measure.
The B4011 road, he explained, carried significant traffic and operated a 50-mile-per-hour limit, though vehicles frequently exceeded this speed, raising the prospect of serious road safety incidents should the development proceed.
Further technical deficiencies were identified at the site, including susceptibility to surface water flooding, an insufficient foul water drainage network, and inadequate electrical supply infrastructure.
Nixon conveyed these findings to the news agency following his vote on Tuesday.
Long-term resident Herbert Owen, aged 76 and known locally as Herbie, previously cast his ballot and described the referendum as extending beyond Piddington itself.
He stated that the issue represented what previous generations had fought for and characterised the moment as comparable to the Battle of Britain.
Owen expressed concern that the current administration was destabilising the country and argued that wherever such accommodation was established, in camps or multi-occupancy properties, it was causing harm to residents.
A Home Office representative had previously indicated that the Government was closing every asylum hotel, delivering savings exceeding one billion pounds on asylum support since the election.
The spokesperson added that the department was working to house asylum seekers equitably across the nation, including at former military installations designed to be self-contained to minimise effects on local populations.
Engagement with local authorities and police was ongoing to maintain safety for surrounding communities.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy addressed the situation on television, acknowledging Piddington’s concerns while noting that the administration had inherited a substantial backlog of asylum cases.
She stated that processing was being accelerated and stressed that it was unacceptable for poorer communities to bear disproportionate responsibility for asylum accommodation alongside other forms of temporary housing.
Nandy contrasted this approach with the previous administration’s record, observing that cheap accommodation in deprived postcode areas had resulted in virtually every other property in some locations being converted to multi-occupancy dwellings.