Reform UK and the Conservatives have renewed calls for Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), visiting the Oxfordshire village of Piddington as its 350 residents held an unofficial "referendum" against government plans to house more than 1,200 male asylum seekers at a nearby military barracks. The visit, by Reform's Suella Braverman and Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp, comes after residents said their concerns had been largely ignored by Westminster, with the parties arguing that leaving the ECHR would let the UK deport illegal migrants on arrival rather than housing them in communities such as Piddington.

Locals fear being outnumbered four to one overall and ten to one among women if the barracks plan proceeds, and 133 local women wrote to every female MP warning of threats to their safety, though only four of 226 approached responded. Braverman said the plans would "dramatically transform the character of the village" and voiced support for the campaigners, while Philp linked the issue to rates of offending among young male illegal immigrants and called for the government to be removed. The symbolic vote's result, expected in favour of "independence" at around 7am on Tuesday, is intended to pressure Westminster, as Labour continues moving asylum seekers into military barracks nationwide to phase out hotel use and reduce costs.