The Poll Tax

Question 1

What was the poll tax?

Answer 1

-community charge
-thatchers final attempt to reform local gov finances

Question 2

What was its aim?

Answer 2

-make local councils more accountable to their electors by ensuring everyone contributed

Question 3

What was the old system?

Answer 3

-under old rates system local tax based on property + only paid by homeowners
-but Thatcherites believe if everyone contributed it would be fairer

Question 4

What became clear immediately with this?

Answer 4

-under cons local tax was going to go up
-ministers found it difficult justify why poor pensioner pay same as millionaire

Question 5

How was the poll tax initially introduced?

Answer 5

-introduced in Scotland 1989
-extremely unpopular from outset + harmed cons party rep in Scotland every further following issues of deind + recession early 80s

Question 6

When was it introduced to Br + Wales?

Answer 6

-1990
-thatcher unwillingness to alter the course highlighted her increasing aloofness + failure connect with people

Question 7

What was set up in reaction to the poll tax?

Answer 7

-anti-poll tax unions set up across Br
-some areas 30% were non payers

Question 8

How was it enforced?

Answer 8

-police, courts + councils unable enforce tax payments

Question 9

What happened March 1990?

Answer 9

-anti-poll tax demonstration Trafalgar square with over 200k people
-by evening demonstration turned into riot

Question 10

What happened during the riot?

Answer 10

-nearly 5000 injured - incl. rioters + police
-cars overturned + set on fire
-shop windows smashed with extensive looting

Question 11

What was the role of the police in the riot?

Answer 11

-police lost control
-criticism of the politicisation of the police