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Oxfordshire village to hold UK independence referendum amid asylum seeker plan
Villagers backed the vote by 96% after government plans for a nearby asylum site sparked protests and an independence campaign.
- Residents of Piddington voted to pursue a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom, protesting government plans to convert a redundant Ministry of Defence site at Bicester Garrison into an asylum seeker facility.
- The Home Office scheme to house 1,250 men prompted the move, as Piddington Parish Council Chair Tim McNally cited a lack of representation and consultation regarding the proposal.
- McNally, a 62-year-old financial advisor, argued the process is "undemocratic," while residents expressed concerns about security and potential crime in their small, crime-free village.
- On Saturday, July 4, 96 per cent of villagers voted to advance the independence plan; McNally is now drafting a constitution, comparing the village's plight to American revolutionaries.
- The Home Office has refused to comment on whether they would honour the referendum result, while Ian Darby, a resident of 16 years, hopes to force the government to talk.
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12 Articles
12 Articles
Why this Oxfordshire village wants independence
Residents of a small Oxfordshire village are fighting back against government plans to open a large asylum seeker site nearby. In a hugely significant move, locals in Piddington have voted in favour of holding a referendum to declare independence from the UK.
·United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left0Leaning Right5Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Right
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources lean Right
62% Right
C 38%
R 62%
Factuality
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