Why did Malta never integrate with the UK?

Malta has a long history with Britain. But, do you really know how close it was to physically form part of the UK?
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Spunt. (www.spunt.mt) is an independent group dedicated to analysing the big issues in society and public life, and providing fresh perspectives to the public debate. In a country with too much noise and not enough thinking, Spunt. tries to give context and shed new light on what is going on around us. We do not seek to report the news but rather help explain how we got here - and where we may be heading next. Spunt. goes beyond the headlines. We're not here to tell you what to think, we just want to stir the conversation.
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[@SinclairFarrugia]

Because the British only wanted to use Malta. They never were intended to spend their money to regenerate and diversifying the Maltese economy after the Second world war. Not even having funds from The Marshall Aid. They only wanted to leave the Maltese citizens as second class citizens which The Prime Minister Mintoff never accepted. That's why Malta wanted Independence from British Colony. We prove that we were better off!

[@RD-dn7yv]

Yes we've been skint since 1945 - and are still skint now! Malta hasn't done too bad and I look forward to my next visit. Dom Mintoff was no fool and it may have been a sweet deal, if the UK had still been a world power. However, the USA and the USSR had other ideas. Amazing how we helped to rebuild West Germany to become a major economy in Europe whilst ignoring our own national interests?

[@maryannmcnair6887]

Malta is my birth place,praying for peace & unity from 🇺🇸 🙏

[@andreafalzon4529]

this is very nice that my country gets some recognistion

[@a.true.raider924]

I don't know why, but I think the flag of Malta is fascinating...🇲🇹

[@magnuscorbin5040]

The merchant flag looks even better.

[@charleskristiansson1296]

Malta did the right thing in the end! Better staying true to the roots of her neutrality...

[@kurtcami]

dropping bombs is not an effective relationship strategy, so is over staying your welcome.

[@leesales9902]

Think you need to do more research.

[@BasedinReality1984]

It’s a real shame this never happened. After everything we went through together with world war 2. They deserved to be integrated. We still have a close bond that hopefully will never be broken.

[@BasedinReality1984]

@@esmeralda8763 it’s completely different in today’s world. You are indeed lucky to be separated as the UK isn’t the UK it once was which is Sad. My grandfather was Maltese and moved to the UK in the 50s . I’m very proud of my heritage.

[@la_joya4468]

I am glad we received our own autonomy and right to be governed by Maltese people and not over seas actors. However as a Maltese young adult, I don’t see the British colonialism over Malta as anything other than an imperialistic act that has had many negative effects. Our language is slowly dying due to English being a predominant language, and English people seem to still get better treatment on the island.

[@tomwaller6893]

Thank goodness Malta did not join the UK, for just like Scotland you would have had your culture, education become secondary to England. Now Malta is enjoying a higher standard of living than the people of Scotland thanks to the EU. Scotland voted to remain in the EU by 62% in 2016. Our Scottish vote was called English British and ingnored.

[@brmf4346]

Weren't Scotland and her ruling dynasty the initial forming part of Great Britain?

[@keithlewins6502]

Rubbish! I'm Scottish but live in Malta. Scotland enjoys a much higher standard of living than Malta. Minimum wage in Malta in 2021 is €181 per week!

[@Mute040404]

Scottish culture & education is run by SNP

[@RD-dn7yv]

Utter tosh Tom Waller!

[@sa4540]

Who let the SNP in? I’m sure Scotland voted no. Don’t come here with your narrow minded anglophobic hate 😂

[@eaglet2000]

I listened to this podcast with great attention and also did my own research. I say that the Labour Party was wrong in asking for Integration. What the Nationalist Party asked for, that is, Independence, was the correct way forward for Malta. Giorgio Borg Olivier was right in insisting on Independence and this was thanks to the Nationalist Party's merits. Unfortunately, regarding the independence referendum, the Labour Party directed its adherents to vote no. The Labour Party was once again wrong.

[@sa4540]

I wish this had worked. 🇬🇧

[@johnattard9446]

Follow the English and leave the EU and join them.

[@annapartheris4001]

Malta can never be indipendent it is too small an island to be indipendent it jumped from the pan into the fire now it depends wholly on the EU and has to do what they say otherwise it will be punished by them so how can one say Malta is indipendent ?

[@georgebronte840]

Truer words have never been spoken! As Maltese born in the fifties, I am astounded and dismayed at how so many dwell on this deceptive illusion of independence, esp for a place such as Malta.

[@johnborg7904]

Actually Malta got it’s independence in 1964 and joined the EU in 2004 so your point does not stand. This is nothing but Brexit talk and UK is having its own problems adjusting to life outside the EU. Malta as a EU country definitely has its advantages and disadvantages for sure. As a non EU country we would have got to were we are now just would have taken us a bit longer….not much, especially since the world is forever becoming more digital job oriented. Definitely my preferred choice. We have unfortunately become more multicultural, and that has its own problems with moral standards falling, not exactly the blame of the EU as our government is issuing job permits and returning people who land on our shores with their dinghies is more complicated…..just as UK is discovering that taking control of their borders is more complicated than just leaving the EU. If Malta is not independent then neither are the other 26 EU countries and UK has just become one!

[@jgif.i5975]

Lol, Malta did pretty well and for its size it has an enourmous economy. Ar present time Malta is a much better place than many other EU countries.

[@petestewart9442]

Absoultley not. We are ranked #1 to be the country that if we had to leave the EU we would have the best chance of surviving. Previously the UK had that spot and tbh the UK rocked us with Brexit as now most of the products are EU products and the Brexit bill screwed us. We imported a large portion of medicine foot etc... from the UK so if I am being honest it might be better joining UK and Malta trade partnership Also to put a bit of context the economy under Mintoff was factory work. With growing pressure from the PN cabinet, it is possible we might go back the a quality based Economy than a quantity based (Cheap labour). And from then till now, all economic models have been sucsessful and we are one of the best performing in the EU. So I cant agree with you there. Some sources say we are 26th richest per GDP in the world. Independence was absoultley the right way

[@magnuscorbin5040]

Joining the EU was the biggest mistake. Malta's business model would work much better if we weren't in it, and printing your own currency is always a good thing.