\n Announced earlier this year, as the government seeks to move away from using hotels to house asylum seekers, the controversial plan has provoked a strong reaction from local residents.\n<\/p>\n
\n Many have cited safety concerns, with the parish council even organising a vote on leaving the United Kingdom in protest.\n<\/p>\n
\n The former Ministry of Defence site near Piddington (Image: Piddington Parish Council)\n<\/p>\n
\n Mr Yusuf was at the village on Saturday, August 29, where he spoke to a number of the residents.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: “I’m here in Piddington which is ground zero for the invasion of Britain.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It’s a little village of about 350 residents into which Andy Burnham is depositing 1,250 illegal migrant men.”\n<\/p>\n
\n He added: “I’ve spoken to local residents who are terrified; mothers telling me they are attending self defence classes with their daughters, a father told me that in his view his daughter’s childhood is over.\n<\/p>\n
\n The Piddington village sign (Image: Piddington Parish Council)\n<\/p>\n
\n “And they are not going to be detained, they are going to be free to wander around. The ratio of women to men in this village is going to go to five to one almost overnight.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It’s harder to think of a bigger betrayal of a local community by a government.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Andy Burnham said a few days after he became prime minister that he was going to give local residents a massive say over their own lives.\n<\/p>\n
\n Reform UK home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf (Image: Jonathan Brady\/PA Wire)\n<\/p>\n
\n “He was going to devolve power; well, prime minister Burnham, why are you doing this to your own people?”\n<\/p>\n
\n Piddington Parish Council claim repeated attempts to secure discussions with the government have failed, despite widespread opposition in the village to the plans.\n<\/p>\n