Piddington residents back symbolic secession vote over proposed asylum centre
An Oxfordshire village has voted to symbolically secede from the UK in protest against a proposed reception centre at the nearby MoD Bicester site.
Residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, have backed a non-binding vote to symbolically secede from the United Kingdom, protesting plans for an asylum reception centre at the nearby disused MoD Bicester military site.
The parish council said 312 people voted, with 285 supporting secession, 26 opposing it and one ballot spoiled. Turnout was reported at almost 92 per cent. Residents said they would identify as the “Principality of Piddington”, but the vote has no legal basis and does not alter the village’s status.
The proposed centre remains under review and would accommodate adult males aged 18 to 65 if approved. The plan is part of the government’s effort to move asylum seekers from hotels into disused military facilities by 2029.
The government has said the MoD Bicester proposal remains subject to feasibility studies, planning permission and other requirements. It has not specified the site’s eventual capacity, but says occupancy would be phased and the facility would operate for at least 10 years if used.
Government information says the site would provide basic accommodation, communal spaces and laundry facilities, with round-the-clock security and surveillance. The proposal has also raised concerns about the suitability of remote military bases and the potential for local communities and facilities to become targets for far-right protests.
