Oxfordshire village to hold symbolic referendum on independence from UK

A rural Oxfordshire village will hold a symbolic independence “referendum” on Tuesday to protest against controversial Government plans to house more than 1,000 asylum seekers at a nearby former military base.

The proposal, which would mean 1,256 male asylum seekers moving into the base near Piddington, about 4.5 miles south-east of Bicester, has sparked anger and fear among many village residents.

On July 4, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, 96% of Piddington voters backed holding an independence referendum, which will take place on Tuesday.

The vote will invite residents to express whether their village should become independent from the UK.

A view of the ex-military base MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire (Joe Giddens/PA)

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Last month Mike Nixon, the vice-chairman of Piddington Parish Council, said the Home Office plans would threaten residents’ human rights, security and way of life.

He said although he was in agreement with Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s intention to disperse asylum seekers into middle class communities, he believed doing so in Piddington was impractical and unnecessary.

Asked why the village wanted a referendum, Mr Nixon said: “We’re still very frustrated. Andy Burnham did say that he’s willing to listen, but we’ve had no formal contact. No consultation, nothing from the Home Office.

“We felt that the only way of making our views felt was to say ‘well if we’re not going to be listened to, what’s the point of being a part of the country?’”

(left to right) Kim Elliot, 59, Gloria Brown, 69, and Heidi Meakin, 61, residents of Piddington (Joe Giddens/PA)

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Mr Nixon said the Government’s plans were flawed, posing risks to both residents and asylum seekers, and because they undermine Mr Burnham’s devolution plans.

The Government wants to use the Urgent Crown Development Process which allows Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to bypass local planning authorities.

On Monday, about 20 women gathered in Piddington to meet shadow home secretary Chris Philp, shadow minister for women and equalities Joy Morrissey, and Reform UK MPs Sarah Pochin and Suella Braverman.

Ms Morrissey, Ms Pochin and Ms Braverman were three of the four MPs – with Conservative MP Sarah Bool – to respond to an open letter from 133 female village residents to all 266 female MPs.

Zach, 10 months, and female residents of Piddington (Joe Giddens/PA)

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In the letter, the group of women said they faced a “crisis”, adding “our safety, security and freedoms will be under threat”.

Heidi Meakin, 61, a recently widowed Piddington resident, was one of the women behind the letter, and joined the group at the village green on Monday.

She told the Press Association she moved to the village because it was quiet, but would no longer feel safe there if the site went ahead.

She said: “I wouldn’t leave my front door unlocked like I do. I would be reluctant to come down here and walk my dog.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp, shadow minister for women and equalities Joy Morrissey (right) and residents of Piddington look through the wire fence at the former military base (Joe Giddens/PA)

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“This is where all of us come and walk our dogs, meet people, and the kids come down here and play football, and that will change, that will completely change.

“Change the dynamics of the village, change the dynamics of how we feel, and even our daily routine.”

Gloria Brown, 69, who has lived in Piddington for 23 years, said she would stop litter-picking in the village if plans went ahead, something she takes “lots of pride” in doing.

“All my friends in the village call me Madame Cholet,” Ms Brown said. “I wouldn’t be able to do that any more. I do it on my own sometimes.”

She added: “How ever am I going to get my mental health back to scale? Because it’s going to make me feel imprisoned in my own village.

“I’ve felt very emotional about it just lately, and it’s just not correct, and it’s totally unfair.”

Piddington ‘s population stood at 358 in 2021, according to the latest Census data available.