Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Piddington votes to leave UK in migrant barracks protest
A small village in England called Piddington had a special vote called a referendum.
Only about 350 people live there.
They voted to 'leave' the United Kingdom, which is the country they belong to.
This vote is a protest and is symbolic, so the village will not actually leave the UK.
The people are upset because the government plans to move people seeking safety in the UK to an old army base nearby.
The base, called Bicester barracks, is only six kilometres from the village.
The government might put 1,250 people there, which is almost four times the size of the whole village.
The village leader, Tim McNally, says they do not want to avoid helping, but they want the government to listen to their concerns about the plan.
The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, says richer areas need to help too and that poorer communities should not carry the burden alone.
The country is also closing the hotels it used to keep these people in and hopes to close them all by 2029.
The 350-resident Oxfordshire village of Piddington voted in a symbolic referendum to leave the United Kingdom.
The vote protests government plans to house migrants at Bicester barracks, six kilometres from the village.
The Home Office is considering housing 1,250 people at the barracks — nearly four times the village's population.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said wealthy areas 'must play their part', while council chair Tim McNally said Piddington questions the policy's scale, location and process.
Immigration Minister Anna Turley said hotels housing migrants fell from a peak of 400 under the Conservatives to 160 under Labour, with a pledge to close all by 2029.
- Who
- About 350 residents of Piddington, Oxfordshire, along with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Immigration Minister Anna Turley and village council chair Tim McNally.
- What
- The village voted in a symbolic referendum to leave the United Kingdom in protest at plans to house migrants in nearby Bicester barracks.
- When
- Referendum date not specified; Burnham commented on Tuesday and Turley spoke to the BBC on Wednesday.
- Where
- Piddington, Oxfordshire, England; Bicester barracks are located six kilometres from the village.
- Why
- To protest the government's policy of moving migrants out of hotels and into former military bases, a move that has also drawn protests in Suffolk, Thetford and Norfolk.
Piddington village concerns
Government responsibility
Housing policy implementation
Piddington village concerns
The village is not seeking exemption from national responsibility but questions the scale, location and process of housing migrants in Bicester barracks.
Government responsibility
Wealthy areas of the UK must play their part and the country cannot have a situation where only the poorest communities house asylum seekers.
Fair distribution of burden
Piddington village concerns
Being an affluent area does not mean the village has high capacity to absorb 1,250 people.
Government responsibility
It cannot be only the poorest communities that house asylum seekers; all areas, including wealthier ones, must contribute.
Use of former military bases
Piddington village concerns
Communities near former bases, including Piddington and areas of Suffolk, Thetford and Norfolk, have protested the placements.
Government responsibility
Ending hotel use and opening secure alternative sites such as former military bases saved the government £1 billion.
- Village
- Piddington, Oxfordshire
- Population
- About 350
- Barracks location
- Bicester barracks, 6 km from the village
- Proposed capacity
- 1,250 people (nearly four times Piddington's population)
- Hotels housing migrants at peak (Conservatives)
- 400
- Hotels housing migrants now (Labour)
- 160
- Hotel closure pledge
- All hotels closed by 2029
- Savings from closing hotels
- £1 billion