Residents of the small Oxfordshire village of Piddington voted overwhelmingly in a symbolic referendum to secede from the United Kingdom in protest against government plans to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military base.

The parish council organized the non-binding vote, which took place on Tuesday. Out of 312 ballots cast with a turnout of nearly 92 percent, 285 residents supported secession and self-determination, while 26 opposed it and one ballot was spoiled.

Piddington has a population of around 350. The proposed site at MoD Bicester, between Piddington and nearby villages, would accommodate more than three times the local population in a single facility for single adult males. Local concerns center on the scale of the influx, potential strain on community resources, and risks to residents, particularly women and children.

Parish council chairman Tim McNally declared the village the "Principality of Piddington" following the result and said the vote sent a clear message to the government. "It is a message to the Government that you are going to have to change," he stated. Vice chair Susannah Parden called the village "Piddington the village that roars."

The referendum stems from Home Office plans to repurpose disused military sites for asylum accommodation as part of efforts to end the use of hotels. Critics argue the policy disregards local input and community cohesion in rural areas already facing pressure from rapid demographic shifts.

Government officials have indicated no reconsideration of the site despite the protest. The symbolic nature of the vote limits its practical impact, yet it highlights growing frustration in small communities over national immigration policies that prioritize large-scale housing over proportionality and local consent.

Villagers expressed fears that the center could alter the character of their historic settlement, which includes a 12th-century church and limited amenities. Some noted the potential for increased demands on services and heightened security issues associated with housing large numbers of unvetted single men.

This action follows earlier local meetings, including one held on July 4 that strongly backed holding the referendum. The episode underscores tensions between central government directives and rural resistance to policies seen as imposing disproportionate burdens without adequate safeguards.