𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Asylum seekers must be shared across the “entire nation”, a cabinet minister declared as residents in an Oxfordshire village demonstrate their opposition to housing migrants at a former military base. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Where in the UK would want more of this? We’ve got to share this throughout the entire nation.”

A symbolic independence referendum has been organised in Piddington in protest at plans to house 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military base. An open letter by 133 women in Piddington has been sent to Westminster’s 266 female MPs, claiming they faced a “crisis” and voicing fears for their “safety, security and freedoms”. Mr Reynolds said there is “no imaginary place these people can go” while acknowledging “none of this is pleasant” in his Good Morning Britain interview.

Mr Reynolds argued that a “former military site is a far more suitable location” than a hotel in a city or town centre. The cabinet minister claimed “you can more easily see who’s coming and going from a site like that”.

Former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer declared the Conservative plan to send people who come to the UK illegally to Rwanda “dead and buried” upon arriving in Downing Street. Mr Reynolds insisted the Rwanda plan was not a solution for a system that was “completely out of control”.

He said: “None of this was being dealt with because there was this imaginary proposition that somehow people were going to be sent to Rwanda.”

Piddington voters decided to hold the unofficial referendum on July 4, the 250th anniversary of US Declaration of Independence by 96%.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will be able to bypass local planning authorities if the Government uses the Urgent Crown Development Process.

Heidi Meakin, 61, a resident who has met with MPs from different parties to voice her concerns, told the Press Association she would no longer feel safe if the plans go ahead.

She said: “I wouldn’t leave my front door unlocked like I do.”

Gloria Brown, 69, who has lived in the village for 23 years, said she would feel “imprisoned”.

She said: “I’ve felt very emotional about it just lately, and it’s just not correct, and it’s totally unfair.”