[3] On 27 February 1967, Britain granted the territory of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla the status of "associated state", with its own constitution and a considerable degree of self-government.

Throughout its history, Anguilla was a neglected territory with a small population known for its poverty, harsh living conditions and arid land unfit for large-scale agriculture.

The Chief Minister and later Premier of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw, did not help matters by expressing his disdain for the island and its people.

This led most Anguillians to view Bradshaw as authoritarian and many felt that he was unfairly depriving the small island of revenue, investment, and infrastructure.

The invasion was met with indignation by some Anguillians, but the soldiers encountered no resistance and found no elements of intimidation, mafia presence, or even the expected firearms.

A global public relations embarrassment, Operation Sheepskin ultimately contributed to the defeat of Harold Wilson at the 1970 general election.