In February 1956, the proposals were put to a referendum, in which 75 per cent voted 'Yes'. However, owing to a boycott called for by the opposition parties (who felt that the proposals had been forced through) and the Roman Catholic Church (which saw its status threatened), only 60 per cent of the electorate came out to vote. There were reservations in Westminster that the Maltese MPs would be able to hold the balance of power in the House of Commons. In 1957, the closure of British naval docks had a devastating effect on the local economy (a quarter of the workforce was employed in defence related activities.) This effectively killed off the integrationist cause, and Mintoff's Labour Party espoused independence. Malta gained independence in 1964, becoming a republic within the Commonwealth a decade later.