The great Piddington betrayal: Rayner presses ahead with plans for migrant camp - with villagers who voted to leave the UK in protest ignored

Detailed summary

The Housing Secretary gave the green light to plans to house up to 1,256 single male migrants at MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire.

Published: 23:32 GMT, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 23:32 GMT, 12 November 2026

Angela Rayner has approved plans for a controversial migrant camp – despite the village nearby symbolically voting to leave the UK in protest.

The Housing Secretary gave the green light to plans to house up to 1,256 single male migrants at MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire.

She took the decision despite the overwhelming opposition of the local community in Piddington.

The move comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that people in more affluent areas of the UK must 'play their part' in housing asylum seekers.

A letter sent to local Tory MP Greg Smith said: 'I am writing to inform you the Secretary of State has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the Home Office's application.'

The MoD Bicester site – one of three ex-military locations where the Home Office is proposing to house a total of 3,750 asylum seekers – was used as an MoD equipment storage facility.

Angela Rayner has now approved plans for the controversial migrant camp - despite the village's symbolic vote

An aerial view of Piddington, with the MoD Bicester site in the background

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