Piddington to bring legal challenge over asylum base plans

The government will face a legal challenge over plans to convert a former military site near Piddington into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers, the parish council chairman has said. Planning permission for the development at the MoD Bicester site in Oxfordshire was approved by the Housing Secretary Angela Rayner after the Home Office used a fast-track route for projects deemed to be urgently needed and of national importance.

Opponents have six weeks to challenge the decision. Parish council chairman Tim McNally said ministers should "absolutely" be ready for a legal challenge.

Once passed, the law would create a legally enforceable duty of candour which compels public officials and authorities to act transparently when investigations and inquiries take place. McNally told the programme: "Last night, [Prime Minister] Andy Burnham was on a podium talking about the violence, sexual violence towards women, and bringing it upon the media industry as their responsibility to manage.