Second UK village to hold symbolic referendum on leaving UK

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 22:56 · Archive

Barnham in Suffolk has voted to hold a symbolic referendum on leaving the UK in protest at government plans to house asylum seekers at the former RAF base nearby. At a parish council meeting on Saturday, only six or seven of around 80 attendees opposed the plan, with a working group set to meet on Monday to discuss the timeline for the vote.

The village could become the second to stage such a vote after Piddington in Oxfordshire held a similar referendum in July, when 90 per cent voted for 'independence' from the UK over plans for an asylum accommodation site at a former military base. The government proposes accommodating up to 913 people at RAF Barnham.

Barnham parish council chair John Bauer told the BBC that residents voted to demonstrate 'the strength of feeling in the village at the government's failure to consult anyone about a matter which will change the nature of the village'. He said the 'democratic action stands in dramatic contrast to the high-handed approach the government is taking'. The Home Office responded that it is 'listening carefully to the concerns being raised' and that the sites 'are designed to be self-contained, with 24/7 security and CCTV, to reduce the impact on local communities'.

How it is being reported

• Suffolk village of Barnham set to follow in Piddington's footsteps with referendum to leave UKBarnham residents have backed plans to hold a 'symbolic' referendum after the government proposed housing up to 913 asylum seekers. Only a handful of people at the village meeting voted against itThe Mirror · 25 Oct, 22:39
• Second UK village to hold vote on leaving UKBarnham could follow in the footsteps of Piddington, which overwhelmingly voted for ‘independence’ from the UK in protest over plans for asylum seekersThe Independent · 25 Oct, 12:32

In this story: Barnham · Suffolk · Piddington · Oxfordshire · John Bauer · RAF Barnham · Home Office

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