The town of Barnham in Suffolk could now vote to leave the United Kingdom a la Piddington. It’s in the symbolic power of the Parish poll…
There are plans to house up to 1,250 asylum seekers at a MoD site near Thetford. The plans are strongly opposed by nearby residents…
Parish councillors are considering emulating the Piddington example – 90% voted to secede from the UK in protest – across the country. Burnham and the Labour government are promising to distribute predominantly male asylum seekers across Britain. Which towns and villages could be next – and could a new state be formed out of the leavers?
Urgent Crown Development application, validated 2 September 2026, representations closed 17 September 2026. Ten-year temporary use, 2027 to 2037, single adult men aged 18 to 65. Decided by the Secretary of State, not Cherwell District Council.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackthornOxon | ~300 | 4.2 to 1 | |
| PiddingtonOxon | 358 | 3.5 to 1 | |
| LauntonOxon | 1,375 | 0.913 to 1 | |
| Upper ArncottOxon | 1,660 | 0.757 to 1 | |
| AmbrosdenOxon | 2,736 | 0.459 to 1 | |
| BicesterOxon | ~40,000 | 0.031 to 1 |
Urgent Crown Development application submitted 23 July 2026 but not yet published on the MHCLG register, so no representation period has opened. Minimum ten years. Site lies within the Breckland Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation, which West Suffolk Council argues makes the proposal unlawful.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| EustonSuffolk | 138 | 9.1 to 1 | |
| Fakenham MagnaSuffolk | ~167 | 7.5 to 1 | |
| ElvedenSuffolk | ~280 | 4.5 to 1 | |
| BarnhamSuffolk | 584 | 2.1 to 1 | |
| HoningtonSuffolk | ~1,472 | 0.849 to 1 | |
| BrandonSuffolk | ~10,000 | 0.125 to 1 | |
| ThetfordNorfolk | ~25,000 | 0.05 to 1 |
Announced 25 June 2026, minimum three years. A previous plan for 1,500 men was abandoned in 2022 after council legal action. The Linton-on-Ouse Action Group has reformed but says it will not copy the Piddington referendum.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| AldwarkN Yorks | ~100 | 12 to 1 | |
| Shipton by BeningbroughN Yorks | ~450 | 2.7 to 1 | |
| Newton-on-OuseN Yorks | ~500 | 2.4 to 1 | |
| Linton-on-OuseN Yorks | ~700 | 1.7 to 1 | |
| TollertonN Yorks | ~900 | 1.3 to 1 | |
| EasingwoldN Yorks | ~4,500 | 0.267 to 1 |
Open since 12 July 2023 under a Special Development Order. Capacity rising from 766 to 1,245, with the government seeking to extend use beyond 2027. NAO projected a whole-life cost of around £338 million to 2027.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShalfordEssex | ~700 | 1.8 to 1 | |
| WethersfieldEssex | 1,295 | 0.961 to 1 | |
| Great BardfieldEssex | 1,374 | 0.906 to 1 | |
| FinchingfieldEssex | 1,443 | 0.863 to 1 | |
| BraintreeEssex | ~46,000 | 0.027 to 1 |
First 27 men arrived 22 January 2026, scaling to between 500 and 600. The Home Office told Wealden District Council on 2 September 2026 that it intends to seek an extension to 2030 via an Urgent Crown Development application.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| RotherfieldE Sussex | ~2,400 | 0.25 to 1 | |
| UckfieldE Sussex | ~15,000 | 0.04 to 1 | |
| CrowboroughE Sussex | ~21,000 | 0.029 to 1 |
Urgent Crown Development application for the initial triage and processing centre, a new reception centre and a Border Force training facility. Maximum 1,600 on site at any one time, including single women and families. A detained facility under short-term holding rules, not asylum accommodation.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManstonKent | 1,975 | 0.81 to 1 | |
| MinsterKent | ~4,500 | 0.356 to 1 | |
| RamsgateKent | ~40,000 | 0.04 to 1 |
Six camps handed to the Home Office by MoD chiefs and reported in November 2025.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| KnookWilts | ~77 | 6.5 to 1 | |
| Castlemartin villagePembs | ~147 | 3.4 to 1 | |
| BosherstonPembs | ~150 | 3.3 to 1 | |
| AnglePembs | ~180 | 2.8 to 1 | |
| East WrethamNorfolk | 396 | 1.3 to 1 | |
| Stackpole and CastlemartinPembs | 559 | 0.894 to 1 | |
| WarcopCumbria | 569 | 0.879 to 1 | |
| BroughCumbria | ~800 | 0.625 to 1 | |
| MundfordNorfolk | ~1,000 | 0.5 to 1 | |
| HeytesburyWilts | ~1,100 | 0.455 to 1 | |
| DeepcutSurrey | ~2,000 | 0.25 to 1 | |
| Appleby-in-WestmorlandCumbria | ~3,000 | 0.167 to 1 | |
| PirbrightSurrey | ~3,691 | 0.135 to 1 | |
| BrookwoodSurrey | ~4,000 | 0.125 to 1 | |
| WarminsterWilts | ~18,000 | 0.028 to 1 | |
Eight locations currently hold people under immigration powers, plus Haslar which is due to reopen in 2027. Campsfield and Haslar are both subject to live expansion applications decided by the Planning Inspectorate rather than the local council.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| HarmondsworthHillingdon
Colnbrook IRC, 308 beds, built to Category B prison standard. Harmondsworth IRC adjoins it on the same bypass; its capacity is not published.
|
~6,000 | 0.051 to 1 | |
| HorleySurrey
Brook House IRC, capacity 450, plus Tinsley House IRC. Both at Gatwick.
|
~24,000 | 0.019 to 1 | |
| KidlingtonOxon
Campsfield IRC, reopened 1 December 2025. Expansion application CROWN/2026/0000004 goes to public inquiry on 6 October 2026.
|
~13,700 | 0.012 to 1 | |
| GosportHants
Haslar IRC, closed 2015, due to reopen in 2027 at 130 with an application to expand to 600. Consultation closed 6 August 2026.
|
~81,000 | 0.007 to 1 | |
| CrawleyW Sussex
Host borough for Brook House and Tinsley House.
|
~118,000 | 0.004 to 1 | |
| ClaphamBeds
Yarl’s Wood IRC, plus a screening facility. Capacity not published.
|
~1,300 | n/a | |
| BurnhopeCo Durham
Derwentside IRC. Capacity not published.
|
~1,500 | n/a | |
| ConsettCo Durham
Nearest town to Derwentside.
|
~27,000 | n/a | |
| StrathavenS Lanarkshire
Dungavel House IRC. Capacity not published.
|
~7,500 | n/a | |
| DoverKent
Western Jet Foil and the Kent Intake Unit. Short-stay arrivals processing.
|
~31,000 | n/a |
Sites the Home Office has abandoned, cancelled or handed on. Every one of them could be revived. Linton-on-Ouse was dropped in 2022, and returned in 2026. Ratios use the last figure each site was proposed at.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScamptonLincs
Cancelled September 2024 after costs reached around £27 million against a £5 million forecast. Capped at 800 from an original 2,000.
|
~1,000 | 0.8 to 1 | |
| ScottowNorfolk
Former RAF Coltishall. Plans lodged for 200 Afghan refugees.
|
~1,000 | 0.2 to 1 | |
| PortlandDorset
Bibby Stockholm removed in late 2024 after legionella contamination and a death on board. The berth remains.
|
~13,000 | 0.038 to 1 | |
| Bexhill-on-SeaE Sussex
Northeye. Bought for £15.4 million, found unsuitable, transferred to Homes England on 16 February 2026.
|
~40,000 | 0.03 to 1 | |
| FolkestoneKent
Napier Barracks. Emptied 19 December 2025, handed to Taylor Wimpey in March 2026.
|
~50,000 | 0.007 to 1 | |
| InvernessHighland
Cameron Barracks. Ruled out in June 2026 after six months of assessment concluded HMO licensing prevented its use.
|
~47,000 | 0.006 to 1 | |
| Catterick GarrisonN Yorks
Announced March 2023 in the then Prime Minister’s constituency. Never delivered, no capacity ever published.
|
~13,000 | n/a |
The Home Office has confirmed it is pursuing roughly 800 sites that are neither hotels nor military bases, including disused care homes and vacant student accommodation. Locations are not published.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| StaffordStaffs
Former university halls at Beaconside. Refused by the council in July 2022 on grounds including fear of crime, taken to appeal by Serco.
|
~70,000 | 0.007 to 1 | |
| HuddersfieldW Yorks
Former student accommodation. One of the four original large sites costed by the NAO in March 2024.
|
~145,000 | n/a | |
| LeedsW Yorks
Home Office sought a certificate of lawful development to convert a student block to non-student use.
|
~500,000 | n/a | |
| BridgwaterSomerset
Holiday Inn, closed as asylum accommodation in the August 2026 tranche.
|
~41,000 | n/a |
Fewer than 160 hotels remain in use, down from more than 400 at peak. The Home Office names every hotel it closes and none of the ones it keeps open. A typical asylum hotel holds between 100 and 400 people.
| Place | Population | Beds per resident | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenhotel in use | not published | ||
| Altrinchamhotel in use | not published | ||
| Bowthorpehotel in use | not published | ||
| Bristolhotel in use | not published | ||
| Canary Wharfhotel in use | not published | ||
| Cannockhotel in use | not published | ||
| County Antrimhotel in use | not published | ||
| Disshotel in use | not published | ||
| Exeterhotel in use | not published | ||
| Falkirkhotel in use | not published | ||
| Horleyhotel in use | not published | ||
| Liverpoolhotel in use | not published | ||
| Moldhotel in use | not published | ||
| Newcastlehotel in use | not published | ||
| Northamptonhotel in use | not published | ||
| Nuneatonhotel in use | not published | ||
| Perthhotel in use | not published | ||
| Stanwellhotel in use | not published | ||
| Tamworthhotel in use | not published | ||
| Wakefieldhotel in use | not published | ||
| Ashfordhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Birminghamhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Blackpoolhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Bradfordhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Bridgwaterhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Chelmsfordhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Cheltenhamhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Cheshunthotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Dunstablehotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Eppinghotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Halehotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Hitchinhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Lewishamhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Loughboroughhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Northallertonhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Norwichhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Nottinghamhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Readinghotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Sandbachhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Stratford-upon-Avonhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Wembleyhotel closed 2026 | closed | ||
| Wolverhamptonhotel closed 2026 | closed |
The Guardian’s HQ is reportedly infested with an army of bed bugs, with pest controllers called in this afternoon to exterminate the critters. An earlier attempt to deep clean the premises failed…
Staff have been encouraged to work from home in the meantime if they’d rather not put up with the bugs. An internal email concedes “we appreciate this might be unsettling for some staff”, which does suggest there are at least some Guardian hacks who have no problem working in an office stuffed with parasites. Usually just reading the Guardian is enough to make anyone’s skin crawl…
Andy Burnham will speak to the Prime Minister of Mauritius about the Chagos deal prior to his meeting with Trump tomorrow at the UN General Assembly. Priorities…
Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam has told reporters in Port Louis that he plans to hold talks over the phone with Burnham this afternoon about implementing the Chagos surrender deal. There have also been suggestions that the Mauritians are planning to exercise broader pressure on the UK at UNGA in New York from tomorrow…
Nigel Farage said: “I have it on good authority that the PM will tomorrow at midday be speaking to the Mauritian Prime Minister.” It is unclear whether Ramgoolam or Mauritian representatives will meet Burnham in New York in person…
The deal was pulled out of Parliament after Trump made the force of US opposition to it clear in April this year. As Guido revealed Burnham is still committed to it in public. Is Andy taking his lines from Mauritius before the Trump showdown?
UPDATE: A Downing Street spokesperson said:
“The Prime Minister spoke with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, this afternoon.
The Prime Minister began by setting out his intention for the UK and Mauritius to work closely together.
He noted the clear benefits the two countries could bring to each other across a range of shared objectives, including tackling climate change, combatting illicit finance, and boosting growth and trade, as they looked to create opportunities for people at home.
Turning to the future of the military base on Diego Garcia, the Prime Minister underlined his commitment to working with Mauritius and the United States on a way forward that secures the operation of the base and protects UK national security.
The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact, with the Prime Minister adding that he hoped the UK Foreign Secretary and Mauritian Foreign Minister Ramful would be able to meet this week at UNGA to further strengthen the relationship between the UK and Mauritius.”
Farage: “We could have done without this bump in the road, but it’s happened, we’re making the best of it, and we’re now in the very capable hands of Helen”…
Interesting developments over at the Treasury Committee inquiry into high street non-compliance which touches on outlets dodging tobacco and vapes duty. ‘Public health’ group (read: anti-tobacco lobby) ASH was invited to give evidence at a recent session as they generally always are by MPs examining these issues. Same old voices, same old arguments…
Chief Executive Hazel Cheeseman was forthright claiming that the illicit market for cigarettes is “not currently exploding” and that legal and illegal cigarettes are “as bad as each other”. Can that be accurate?
Guido has seen industry evidence submitted to the Committee that casts doubt on those claims, including citing a UCL survey which found that 23% of smokers had purchased illicit tobacco over the six months, while Cancer Research UK’s consumption-based estimate implies more cigarettes are smoked in the UK than HMRC taxes. Moreover: “a peer-reviewed study listed by the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub found that sampled counterfeit cigarettes can contain or deliver higher levels of certain toxic metals than authentic comparator products.” Oops…
The list of ASH claims looks shaky at best. If you only invite campaigners on one side of the debate to a Committee hearing, you only get one view of the evidence…
At the end of last week, the Public Accounts Committee published a damning verdict on Labour’s British Steel adventure, and it makes for grim reading for anyone who assumed ministers had a credible plan for the steel manufacturer. The report found the government is currently burning through taxpayer money at the Scunthorpe site at a rate of around £1.3 million a day, or roughly £475 million a year…
The PAC noted Ministers “could not provide even indicative estimates” of how much more of taxpayers’ money the government expects to sink into British Steel, nor provide any timetable for selling it back to the private sector, with no progress on getting the company back to profitability to top it all off. Labour’s promise to make the firm “productive, profitable and resilient” when it took it over increasingly feels like a distant memory…
Even with the NAO warning that the bill could exceed £1.5 billion in 2028 – before any transformation, compensation, or exit costs are even factored in – the government is still committing to more unnecessary nationalisation in the sector. Co-conspirators will remember Reynolds putting another £350 million of it towards another firm, Speciality Steel…
The Environment Committee also told ministers last week to reject the £10 billion creditor rescue of Thames Water and either put it into Special Administration or legislate to seize control of its finances. Steel serves as a warning: more than a year in, no credible plan, no price tag, no buyer, and no way out. Same old Labour…
Asked by Lobby hacks about his past comments on Trump (“any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now”) Burnham was blithe:
“Politicians say things throughout their career, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in.”
Were it so easy…