Residents of Barnham, Suffolk, will hold a special parish meeting within two weeks to consider a Piddington-style independence referendum and other actions opposing plans to accommodate asylum seekers at nearby RAF Barnham. The proposed scheme could house 1,250 people, potentially by Christmas, and local representatives say they were not informed early enough, raising concerns about the democratic process.

Barnham has about 580 residents, meaning the asylum seeker population could more than double the village’s size. A delegation visited Piddington, where 90 per cent of voters backed seceding from the UK in a symbolic protest, and Barnham may also conduct a skills audit to organise opposition; the Government is expected to decide on the RAF Barnham plan this autumn.