Tiny England village plans referendum on leaving U.K., joining U.S. to protest migrant housing plan

CBS News ^ | July 30, 2026 | Simon Ellery

[MinorityRepublican]

Residents of a tiny English village furious over plans to house hundreds of people seeking asylum in a nearby disused military barracks are preparing to hold a symbolic referendum calling for their community to declare independence from the U.K. and join the U.S.

The referendum, which would carry no weight under British law, is being organized as a protest by villagers in Piddington. Residents there have overwhelmingly opposed the British government's plan to house male asylum seekers at the site about a mile away, on a Ministry of Defense property.

Calum Miller, the local Member of Parliament, said the plans for the Bicester Garrison site could see as many as 1,250 people — more than three times Piddington's population — housed at the facility.

Piddington Parish Council chairman Tim McNally, one of the leading voices behind the protest campaign and referendum plans, compared the village's struggle, and himself, to George Washington battling for independence from Britain.

"Washington brought change. I am going to make the change and then give away the power like he did," McNally told The Sun newspaper. "If we vote to leave, we are going down to the U.S. Embassy and bring our declaration to them."

On July 4, as the U.S. marked Independence Day, Piddington residents voted on whether to hold a referendum on leaving the United Kingdom. According to CBS News' partner network BBC News, 96% of participants backed the proposal to hold the referendum, which supporters call a symbolic act designed to draw national attention to their objections rather than a real attempt at secession.

Supporters argue the community was not adequately consulted before the housing plans were announced by the government, and they say the referendum is intended to highlight frustration with decision-making by the central government.

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TOPICS: United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: piddington

[JZelle]

Let’s give them an NFL team.

[lee martell]

Even though this vote would be purely symbolic, legally effecting nothing, this gesture would be historic.
I have already read several stories of frustrated English begging Donald Trump to “save them” from the ongoing invasions of illegals.

[jroehl]

If Piddington becomes part of the USA they will have to agree to have all their computer systems run by Indians like we do here now..

[Dr. Sivana]

Heck, let’s give ‘em two Senators!

[jmacusa]

There's a ton of videos on You Tube of desperate Britons, Australians and Canadians begging Trump to ''Save Us Donald Trump'' These were the people who were supposed to have it all over us. Free health care, no guns, no racism, etc.

[Organic Panic]

It is absolutely disgusting and heart breaking what the UK is doing to the natives. It has happened to my family in Scotland and Ireland. The home office has dumped hundreds of violent turds in the villages and they turned it to hell. Violent, filthy, sexually uncontrollable, thieving, Muslim turds. I won’t insult animals comparing them to animals.

[FLT-bird]

One thing I need to know first: How did they vote?

If they voted for Reform or Restore, OK. If they voted for Labour or the Greens or the Lib Dems, they’re getting what they voted for.