The chair of Piddington Parish Council, Tim McNally, has said that the government has failed to consult local people and is “forcing” them to accept a camp for migrants near the Oxfordshire village.

He told The Camilla Tominey Show on GB News: “They’re forcing this through so that no one can be consulted. Even the police haven’t been consulted on this matter. So where is this, ‘fair, we’re doing consultation’ – they’re moving the pods in next week and they haven’t even published the proposal? That doesn’t make sense.

“We’ve got resources coming in. Electric, water, sewage have been ready to be plumbed in from 1 September. I’m finding all of this out not from the government, they’re just not looking after us. But no one’s coming to us and saying you need to prepare for this.

“We haven’t done a security review for the village. We’ve got to look at what’s got to – have we got to build compounds? This is the question.

“Have we got to put a compound around our home? Having been to Wethersfield and heard those people who said these men are basically walking through their properties at four in the morning. What on earth are we doing to our communities?”

He said there is a plan to hold a local referendum on the camp: “I’m just going to say to you, OMG. The government better listen. MPs had better listen.

“The amount of back-channelling I am receiving right now from the whole of this country is going to shake this political establishment. I can tell you that right now.

“Just watch this space. The 15th of September is our referendum day. But watch how many others come with us. And I’m just in that process right now. I’ve got a few weeks to get it all organised. I only had six weeks to get this one organised. But look at what we’ve done, and look what I’m going to do in the coming weeks.

“All I can say is just watch this space. You will feel it. You will see it. And evidence is all it takes. I’m sure you’ll be willing to report on that when it starts.”