Progress Through Parliament
The opposition Labour Party and education groups opposed the general or block grant on the basis that it would it would lead to cut-backs in educational expenditure. However, attempts to overturn the policy were defeated. James McColl, the Labour MP for Widnes, introduced an unsuccessful amendment for the establishment of a local income tax.
Outside of parliament, the Cinque Ports voiced their opposition to the Bill, in particular the amalgamation or reduction in status of smaller boroughs in the confederation.
On 6 May 1958 a group of fourteen Conservative MPs representing coastal resorts revolted against the Government. They sought a change in the rating formula, so that resort towns would be reckoned as having fifty percent more than their resident winter population. This was so that they could provide services to the much larger number of inhabitants in the Summer. The amendment was lost, with only the opposition member for Lowestoft voting with the "rebels".
Read more about this topic: Local Government Act 1958
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