Piddington in Oxfordshire is voting over whether to leave the UK in protest over a 1,250 male migrant camp – and locals want Donald Trump to take over.
Donald Trump would be welcome if he wanted to taker over Piddington, residents have said (Image: Getty, PA)
Donald Trump is aware the plight of the independence-seeking village of Piddington and villagers would welcome becoming the “51st state” or even being renamed “Trumpington”. The Daily Express has learned the US President has been personally handed the direct contact details of campaigners in the tiny Oxfordshire village, which has sent shockwaves through the Channel migrant debate.
The result of the Piddington Independence Referendum, which will see the hamlet of 350 people vote whether to support “seeking to secede from the United Kingdom and pursuing self-determination”, will be announced tomorrow morning (Wednesday). The historic “consultative vote expressing residents’ wishes” has been held by locals who have repeatedly tried to halt Labour and Home Office plans to put 1,250 male migrants in a neighbouring former Ministry of Defence (MoD) storage site.
Using ex-MoD bases is part of a Labour strategy to take asylum seekers out of hotels, but critics argue the often-rural military sites have no infrastructure, present a security risk for locals, and will still cost millions to maintain. Piddington’s vote, although not legally binding, is now inspiring other villages and towns across the nation that have ex-military sites which could become asylum centres.
Organisers used American Independence Day, July 4, to first moot an intention to hold a Pidd-exit and it’s known President Trump is aware of today’s vote, after being handed details through a UK contact.
Mr Trump is well-known for his love of re-naming geography and claiming countries, having previously proclaimed both Canada and Greenland as a 51st and 52nd states, and declared the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario to be now known as the Gulf of America, and Lake America.
Piddington parish councillor Tim McNally has been at the centre of organising resistance to the migrant camp plans from the beginning. “We would consider a name-change to Trumpington if Donald took an interest in making us the 51st state,” Tim told the Daily Express.
“Perhaps we could become a new Mar a Lago, or the Village of America.
“We would welcome the presidential helicopter landing on the Jubilee Reserve playing field, who knows it might still happen.”
Reform UK’s Suella Braverman and Sarah Pochin met the women of Piddington on Monday (Image: Tim Merry)
Tim joked: “He does love the band the Village People after all, so it would seem like a natural choice.”
President Trump is famous for his unique fist-pumping dance style and his love of the the group’s hit Y.M.C.A, which was played at his 2025 inauguration.
Businesswoman Alison Wynne, 59, who has a small holding right next to the MoD site fence, said: “I would be happy to live in the 51st state. Trumpington could be a good name change.
“I am a fan of Donald Trump, he is kind of one of those guilty pleasures.
“The thing I have to applaud him for is that he runs government like a business, and that is where we are failing.
“I like the fact that he is outspoken and doesn’t give a s***, he’s very calculating about what he says, so many people are too thick to see that he often says things to provoke a reaction, to poke the bear.”
Alison added that the people of Piddington had been pushed to vote the way they have because of decisions made in Westminster.
Voters casting their ballots in Piddington referendum on Tuesday (Image: Getty)
Greg Swenson, Chairman of Republicans Overseas UK said although Piddington’s vote was “symbolic” he was sure “sure the White House sympathises with the people of Piddington”.
“The government has chosen to look after illegal migrants withour regard to the safety of citizens of the United Kingdom. Look no further than the shocking case of illegal immigrant Radiet Meles, who was released into the UK in spite of sneaking into the country on the back of a lorry,” he added.
“He was not deported after an attempted rape conviction and subsequently committed another rape. Why do the politicians and commentators on the left always side with the criminals and not the victims?
“We have seen the same insanity in the US, where the left has no regard for victims like Laken Riley or Sheridan Gorman, both killed by illegal migrants, but are happy to criticize ICE for enforcing the law.
“It was only two years ago that we had open borders in the US- Joe Biden and the Democrats have blood on their hands.
“As long as successive governments continue to welcome illegals and even provide them with welfare, expect to see protests by British citizens who deserve better, and criticism from the White House troubled by the self-destruction of our closest ally.”
The quiet village is just a couple of fields from the former MoD base (top) (Image: PA)
Reform UK’s Suella Braverman and Sarah Pochin became the first female MP’s to visit Piddington when they went to the village this week, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp and Tory MP Joy Morrisey also visited on the same day.
When asked if any government minister has been to Piddington or intends to go, a No10 Spokesman said: “No final decision has been taken on the site’s future use. But if taken forward there will be a specialist and experienced security provider permanently on site 24/7.”
When pressed they added: “I point you to our response. There is an ongoing process where local views are taken on board […] as part of the planning application. Of course we will engage with local communities as part of understanding those local issues, concerns and considerations through that process.”