{
  "id": 8683272,
  "title": "English Village That Voted To Leave UK Says It Could Ask To Join US",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/english-village-that-voted-to-leave-uk-says-it-could-ask-to-join-us",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T12:07:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/english-village-that-voted-to-leave-uk-says-it-could-ask-to-join-us-12464896"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Piddington, a small English village, recently voted to seek independence from the United Kingdom. The parish council chair, Tim McNally, told Newsweek that they plan to formally request to join the United States should the British government proceed with a plan to house 1,250 male asylum seekers at a site near the village. President Trump has expressed his desire to expand American territory, making comments about potentially incorporating Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal into the US.\n\nMcNally said that the Piddington parish council had reached out to President Trump, sending a dossier to the American embassy outlining their case. Parish councilor Joe Marshall supports the proposal, stating it's a great idea and that America has done this before. Marshall also noted that American President Trump has a strong moral compass and is holding the UK government accountable over certain issues.\n\nHowever, some villagers have raised concerns about security, particularly regarding the proposed asylum center. Councilor Susannah Parden highlighted the village's fear for the safety of women and children due to the asylum center being located on their playing fields. Despite this, many villagers expressed support for the independence proposal, with some comparing the potential change to the quirky American influence seen in places like Bermuda.\n\nThe village's symbolic vote for secession passed with 91.8% turnout, with 285 voting for independence, 26 against, and one spoiling their ballot. The proposal to transform a military base into an asylum center is a matter of national importance, bypassing normal planning procedures.",
  "summary": "The English village of Piddington could ask to join the United States according to its parish council chair.",
  "key_points": [
    "Piddington village voted to seek independence from the UK.",
    "Council seeks to join the US, citing Trump's expansionist views.",
    "Security concerns raised over asylum center location."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}