Pressure mounts on MP over ‘silence’ on Oxfordshire asylum centre

The MP has been vocal about his frustrations with the Home Office’s plans online and on social media, however criticism is mounting over his deliberate refusal to attend any in person protests or organise any local meetings about the matter.

Conservative councillor Liam Walker said: “Lib Dem MP Calum Miller has some serious questions to answer over the plans to house migrants at the MOD Bicester site.

“In November 2023 as a County Councillor, he voted for Oxfordshire to become a Council of Sanctuary, supporting a Lib Dem motion which said people seeking safety should be housed “as our neighbours and as part of our communities.”

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Liam Walker has said the MP is “noticeably absent” from protests organised by local residents (Image: Supplied)

“Now the plans affect Bicester, he appears to be campaigning against them while being noticeably absent from protests organised by local residents.

“You simply can’t have it both ways.

“Local Conservative councillors are looking at what options are available at both Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council to support residents and ensure their voices are heard as clearly the MP has lost all credibility and is being ignored by the government.”

In a website against the site Mr Miller recently spoke out against the government’s proposals.

He said: “The Government cannot maintain that their application is urgent when they have taken more than 40 days merely to publish it, particularly when the Home Office first approached the Ministry of Defence about Site A in November 2025.

Protestors say the site is unsuitable because of its proximity to Bicester and nearby villages (Image: Ed Nix)

“I have used every political and Parliamentary lever available to me to find out more information and oppose the plans.”

Calum Miller defended his actions to not attend any protests against the centre as a “deliberate judgement”.

He said: “I will only lend my support to activity which is tolerant, peaceful, inclusive and consistent with the values shared by Bicester and the surrounding villages.

“I know that many people passionately oppose this proposal. So do I.

“Yet legitimate local concerns risk, and are being, exploited by outside parties and organisations – pursuing vindictive political agendas and using inflammatory rhetoric such as describing those seeking asylum as ‘orcs invading the Shire’ – who are not attempting to solve our problem but to score political points.”

Multiple protests have taken place since the Home Office’s announcement of the plans (Image: Ed Nix)

In the statement, on the website ‘Wrong Plan Wrong Site’, Mr Miller also drew on the current Crowborough Shield CIC who are currently bringing legal action against the Home Office after residents raised more than £155,000.

Mr Miller explains that Bicester and Piddington could do the same, but states his position as MP is limited while the government is yet to publish its application.

A Facebook group ‘Bicester Against MOD Asylum Centre’ has also consistently called for clarity from the MP stating his social media presence shows little concern for the proposals.