Piddington referendum hailed by former Labour adviser Lord Walney

Former Labour adviser Lord Walney has backed the people of Piddington in their protests over plans to house more than a thousand migrants in their tiny community, according to GB News. The ex-political violence tsar reacted to Oxfordshire’s landslide referendum declaring its independence from the United Kingdom.

Residents in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with the UK in a symbolic referendum organized in protest against government plans to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at the nearby MoD Bicester site. Out of 312 votes cast, a decisive 285 villagers backed independence, while only 26 voted against the measure.

Speaking to GB News, Lord Walney reacted to the extraordinary ballot by praising local residents for making their voices heard against centralized decisions. The vote was staged to oppose the conversion of the former Ministry of Defence base, situated roughly half a mile from the village, into a large-scale housing facility for asylum seekers.

Community fears and local democracy

Local campaigners and residents raised widespread concerns regarding safety, local infrastructure, and the sheer scale of the proposal, which threatens to quadruple the population of the rural community. Parish organizers and council figures hailed the result as a triumph of local democracy and a stark warning to Whitehall.

• Piddington recorded 285 votes in favor of independence out of 312 total ballots cast.
• The Home Office plan targets the MoD Bicester site to accommodate over 1,200 asylum seekers.
• Former Labour adviser Lord Walney praised the community for making their voices heard.
• Critics and local leaders argue the area was chosen without adequate consultation or feasibility checks.

Government figures have maintained that using military sites is necessary to spread the burden of accommodation away from deprived urban areas, insisting the scheme will be largely self-sufficient. However, critics continue to challenge the lack of engagement with local populations.

The ballot remains symbolic, but it has ignited a fierce national discussion concerning accountability, border policies, and the centralization of regional housing decisions.

Original source: Read the full report at GB News