View attachment 576954
1956: aka The Year Britain Decided
Not To Annex Something For Once.
Following World War II and during Decolonization, the UK was under pressure to let go of Malta and there were mixed opinions about it. While it cost a lot of money to maintain, it was also in a strategically advantageous position inside the Mediterranean. In 1950, Maltese nationalist Enrico Mizzi was elected Prime Minister...and then died just 3 months later (to date the only one to die while in office). He was succeeded by Minister for Public Works and Reconstruction and Minister of Education Giorgio Borg Olivier, also of the nationalist party, who wanted Malta's independence.
During his time in office, Malta experienced severe economic downturn as a result of Olivier's attempts at shifting the country to a mixed economy, favoring corporatist polices for tourism and construction, which lead to him both asking for money from the UK and also demanding more autonomy for Malta. This didn't make him very popular.
Fast forward to 1955, where Dom Mintoff was elected new Prime Minister and he proposed a new direction: make Malta into a part of the UK. The idea wasn't just to keep Malta, but to fully integrate it as a constituent nation, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and Malta. This would come with local representation and membership in parliament. The UK was very happy about this, as it meant they got to keep their colonies and neither the U.S. or USSR could complain because it was voted for by the people. Mintoff was happy because it could help repair Malta's financial woes thanks to British social programs and a small voice in defense spending on the island.
In 1956, a referendum was held on the matter, with "yes" winning with 77% of the vote on a 60% turnout. Of course, it didn't happen for several reasons:
1. Malta's membership in the UK required limiting spending and limiting the government to only a small budget deficit. Mintoff was not pleased by this.
2. Many in the British government felt this would set a new precedent where former colonies would now start asking for formal annexation as a way to finally have a voice in British politics.
3. Britain's defense needs rapidly changed during the 50's, especially after the Suez Crisis, and Malta's strategic importance diminished.
In the end, the UK didn't absorb Malta and the island gained independence in 1964.