The village of Barnham in Suffolk has emerged as the next community joining the protest movement against government asylum plans, following the symbolic "independence" vote held by Piddington in Oxfordshire.

 

The village of Barnham in Suffolk has emerged as the next community joining the protest movement against government asylum plans, following the symbolic "independence" vote held by Piddington in Oxfordshire.

The Movement Spreads to Barnham

• The Trigger: Residents in Barnham (population under 600) took to the streets to protest government proposals to convert a local former RAF site near the Norfolk-Suffolk border into accommodation for up to 1,250 asylum seekers.
• Connecting with Piddington: Local leaders in Barnham, including Councillor John Bauer, established an emerging partnership with Piddington campaigners to share tactics and consider holding their own Piddington-style symbolic referendum.
• Local Grievances: Much like Piddington, residents cite inadequate infrastructure, lack of meaningful public consultation, and safety/safeguarding concerns regarding a large influx of single male asylum seekers relative to the size of the village.

Background on the Piddington Protest

• The Vote: On September 15, 2026, tiny Piddington (population ~350) held a non-binding, symbolic referendum where 285 out of 312 participating residents voted to "secede" from the United Kingdom, jokingly declaring themselves the "Principality of Piddington" in protest of plans for MoD Bicester.
• Government Stance: The Home Office and government ministers stated that no final decisions have been finalized for the sites, but emphasized that utilizing self-contained former military facilities is necessary to end costly hotel usage and fairly distribute asylum accommodation