An English village of around 350 people has voted overwhelmingly to “secede” from the United Kingdom in a symbolic referendum held in protest against plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby former military site.
In Piddington, near Oxford, 285 of the 312 ballots counted backed the call for the village to seek self-determination. The referendum has no legal standing, but residents celebrated the result by putting up a sign declaring the area the “Principality of Piddington”.
The vote was organised by the parish council and was inspired partly by the 1949 British comedy film Passport to Pimlico, in which London residents discover their neighbourhood is technically outside the UK and declare independence.
Local council leader Tim McNally said the vote was intended to send a message about residents’ concerns over the government’s plans. The proposed centre at a disused military site is expected to house more than 1,200 single adult male asylum seekers for at least 10 years.
The government says the use of former military bases is part of its plan to reduce reliance on hotels for asylum accommodation.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would consider the concerns raised by the community, while the government has maintained that the site will go ahead.
