An English village held a symbolic vote on Wednesday in which a large majority of residents sought to secede from the United Kingdom. The referendum, organized by the parish council of Piddington in central England, came in response to government plans to accommodate more than 1,200 asylum seekers at a nearby disused military site.

Piddington, a village with a population of around 350 people, is located approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Oxford. With 312 ballots cast, 285 residents voted in favor of the village seeking independence and pursuing self-determination. The vote, which has no legal standing, was described by parish council chair Tim McNally as a protest against what he called a disproportionate burden on a small community. McNally highlighted concerns over the plan to house 1,250 primarily male migrants near the village and criticized the government for moving quickly on the scheme.

“This is about proportionality—how does a small village of 350 odd people assimilate with 1,250 males?” McNally told Sky News. He also announced that following the vote, the village would be referred to as the “principality of Piddington.”

The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from local officials and government representatives. Tim Bearder, leader of Oxfordshire County Council, expressed reservations, warning that the facility “will be a lightning rod to the far right, who come here to protest” and could potentially lead to attacks on asylum seekers.

Despite local opposition, senior government figures have defended the plan. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that he would consider the community’s concerns but emphasized that most Britons support the government’s approach to ending the practice of housing asylum seekers in hotels. Burnham said it was “fair” to distribute holding centers across the country.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also defended the choice of the former military base, describing it as a preferable alternative to hotels or rented accommodations. She confirmed that the government plans to proceed with establishing the center.

Across the United Kingdom, public demonstrations continue to oppose the accommodation of asylum seekers in hotels and other local facilities. The situation highlights ongoing tensions as the government seeks new solutions for managing migrant arrivals.