Village Independence Vote

Oxfordshire Village to Hold Symbolic Referendum on Independence From UK

Oxfordshire village, Piddington, is set to hold a symbolic referendum on independence from the UK. The proposal involves 1,256 male asylum seekers moving into a base near Piddinton, about 4.5 miles south-east of Bicester. This has sparked anger and fear among many village residents. Mike Nixon, vice-chairman of Piddlington Parish Council, said the Home Office's plans threaten residents' human rights, security, and way of life. He said that while he supports Prime Minister Andy Burnham's plan to disperse asylum seekers into middle-class communities, doing so in Piddling was impractical and unnecessary. The referendum will allow residents to express their choice if their village should become independent from the United Kingdom.