Barnham Village Considers UK Secession Vote Over Asylum Plans

The village of Barnham in Suffolk is considering holding a symbolic referendum on leaving the United Kingdom in protest against government plans to house asylum seekers at a nearby former Royal Air Force base. The move follows a similar vote in Piddington, Oxfordshire, where 90% of residents chose to secede from the UK in an unofficial poll last week. Barnham Parish Council Chairman John Bauer confirmed the council is exploring the option. "We've seen what Piddington has done, and they've had a fantastic impact. They've really raised the profile of the whole issue," Bauer said. He added that a delegation from Barnham planned to visit Piddington to learn from their experience. The protest is directed at Home Office proposals to accommodate approximately 1,250 male asylum seekers, aged 18 to 65, at the former RAF Barnham site. The government has stated the site would be largely self-contained to minimize impact on the local community. Barnham itself has a population of just under 600 people. Home Office minister Anna Turley defended the policy, stating the sites were "more manageable and affordable" than housing asylum seekers in hotels.