A second English village is considering holding a symbolic referendum on independence in response to government plans to accommodate asylum seekers at a nearby military base. The village of Barnham in Suffolk is exploring following the example of Piddington, an Oxfordshire village where 90 percent of residents voted to secede from the United Kingdom in protest against the Home Office’s proposal to house migrants at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site in Bicester.

John Bauer, chairman of Barnham parish council, said he was part of a group visiting Piddington to discuss the possibility of holding a similar poll. Bauer indicated that local sentiment strongly opposes the plan to host asylum seekers at MoD Barnham. “To send a message to the government, I wouldn’t be surprised if 90 percent voted [for independence from the UK],” he said. He questioned the government’s sense of urgency, noting that asylum seeker numbers are reportedly down and more individuals are being returned to their countries of origin. He attributed the urgency to the government’s decision to remove migrants from hotel accommodation.

Barnham, characterized by Bauer as a small and typical Suffolk village with limited facilities, including a school, village hall, and church but no shops or pubs, is concerned about the suitability of the military base for housing asylum seekers. Local councillors also point to environmental considerations; the area hosts a significant breeding population of the endangered stone curlew, one of the UK’s most protected bird species. Similar ecological concerns emerged in Piddington, where the presence of barbastelle bats and great crested newts may require the Home Office to obtain licences from Natural England before proceeding with any development.

Public opinion on accommodation for asylum seekers appears divided. A recent poll found only 3 percent support for continued use of hotels, while 55 percent favored housing migrants at large sites such as military barracks. Despite this, previous efforts to convert military bases into asylum accommodation have encountered strong local resistance. Conservative plans to house migrants at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and RAF Linton in North Yorkshire ultimately failed despite significant expenditure, and RAF Linton is now once again being considered by the current Labour government.

The developments in Barnham and Piddington highlight ongoing tensions between government immigration policy and local communities, with environmental, social, and political factors influencing responses to plans for asylum accommodation. The moves by these villages to hold symbolic votes for independence serve as a form of protest intended to draw wider attention to local opposition and perceived government shortcomings in managing asylum seeker housing.