Barnham parish council is exploring a symbolic referendum on leaving the United Kingdom in protest against proposals to house asylum seekers at the former RAF base on the village’s outskirts. The move follows a similar unofficial vote in Piddington, Oxfordshire, where an overwhelming majority backed independence from the UK.
Piddington’s Precedent
Last Tuesday, residents of Piddington cast ballots in an informal referendum organised after the Ministry of Defence announced plans to use MoD Bicester for initial asylum‑seeker processing. Of the eligible voters, 285 backed the motion to leave the UK, representing a turnout of nearly 92 percent. Only 26 voted against, with one ballot spoiled. The result was presented as a clear signal of local opposition to the government’s accommodation strategy.
Barnham’s Growing Resistance
John Bauer, chair of Barnham parish council, told The Independent that his community of roughly 600 people is weighing a similar vote. He said nobody he had spoken to in the village supported the plan to host migrants at the former RAF base. Bauer added that, to send a message to ministers, he would not be surprised if 90 percent voted for independence. He described Barnham as “a small – I would say quintessential – Suffolk village, with a village school, a village hall and it’s got a church. That is it. There are no shops, there is no pub, there is nothing else for them to do here.”
Protests have already flared outside the site, with demonstrators flying Union and St George’s flags and holding placards that read “Barnham says no. Protect our community.” Earlier in August, nearby Thetford experienced three nights of unrest, during which police officers were assaulted, one struck by a rock, another bitten and a third spat at.
Government Justifies the Use of Former Military Sites
Home Office minister Anna Turley defended the proposal, arguing that former military bases offer a self‑contained, manageable and more affordable alternative to housing asylum seekers in hotels. She told LBC radio that the sites would allow residents to come and go while all necessary services remained on site. Turley also contended that poorer regions with lower property prices had already borne their “fair share” of migrant placements, stating: “They’re not going to be in the village, they’re going to be contained in a former military base, they will be allowed out, everything they need will be on that site.” She added that the government is examining former industrial sites, student accommodation and other secure locations as part of the same approach.
The Independent has approached the Home Office for further comment but has not yet received a response.
Why it Matters
The potential referendum in Barnham underscores a widening rift between rural communities and national immigration policy, turning local dissent into a symbolic challenge to the UK’s constitutional unity. If the vote proceeds and mirrors the strong support seen in Piddington, it could embolden other villages to pursue similar gestures, increasing pressure on ministers to reassess the placement of asylum seekers in former military installations. The episode highlights how grassroots opposition, even when non‑binding, can shape public discourse and influence the political calculus surrounding asylum accommodation.
