Poll tax

• Tax on property value

  • people didnt pay as they rented
  • Multi occupancy wasnt fair
  • 12 million out of 37 paid
• high spending labour councils got away with higher rates
• thatcher assured she was infallible due to past wins

  • greatest strength is greatest weakness
• 1/2 Scot’s refused to pay
• Staffordshire bi election is overturned by 19000 labour majority + trafalger square riot
• government majoity reduced to 25 as ted heath leads oppositon with one nation tories - millionaire pay half as much as a pensioner couple
• defeats vote with help of backwoodsmen in lords
• highlighted weakness of constitution which she didnt reform a she enjoyed elected dictatorshio
• Anti poll tax unions set up - police and council couldn’t enforce payments
• 200k people attend demonstration and 5000 injured

  • politicisation of police like orgreave