A second English village is considering a symbolic independence referendum over plans to house illegal immigrants at a nearby former military base.
Residents of Barnham - a village in Suffolk of around 600 people - are weighing up a vote in protest against proposals to accommodate up to 1,250 people at RAF Barnham. Villagers have raised concerns about the scale of the plan and its effect on their community.
This follows a similar referendum in Piddington, Oxfordshire, where residents objected to plans to house up to 1,250 single adult men at MoD Bicester, beside their village of around 350 people. In the symbolic vote, Piddington voted overwhelmingly to leave the UK. Although the result has no legal force, it did bring national attention to their situation. Barnham residents are now considering whether a similar vote would help make their own concerns heard.
Adrian Whittle, Reform UK’s leader on West Suffolk Council, said he would support Barnham if it chose to hold a vote. “I would be delighted if they had a referendum on their independence”, he said, arguing that it would show residents “haven’t given up”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also spoken about the proposed use of RAF Barnham. He said people living near the site were “very worried and very scared” about the asylum accommodation plans.
A Reform government would stop the boats once and for all and end the need to impose these sites on local communities. Under Operation Fortress, Reform would intercept boats using the Royal Navy, return those on board to where they came from, and detain and deport anyone who enters the UK illegally.
Residents of Barnham - a village in Suffolk of around 600 people - are weighing up a vote in protest against proposals to accommodate up to 1,250 people at RAF Barnham. Villagers have raised concerns about the scale of the plan and its effect on their community.
This follows a similar referendum in Piddington, Oxfordshire, where residents objected to plans to house up to 1,250 single adult men at MoD Bicester, beside their village of around 350 people. In the symbolic vote, Piddington voted overwhelmingly to leave the UK. Although the result has no legal force, it did bring national attention to their situation. Barnham residents are now considering whether a similar vote would help make their own concerns heard.
Adrian Whittle, Reform UK’s leader on West Suffolk Council, said he would support Barnham if it chose to hold a vote. “I would be delighted if they had a referendum on their independence”, he said, arguing that it would show residents “haven’t given up”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also spoken about the proposed use of RAF Barnham. He said people living near the site were “very worried and very scared” about the asylum accommodation plans.
A Reform government would stop the boats once and for all and end the need to impose these sites on local communities. Under Operation Fortress, Reform would intercept boats using the Royal Navy, return those on board to where they came from, and detain and deport anyone who enters the UK illegally.
