What were Poll Tax riots?
The poll tax riots were a series of riots that took place in British towns during protests against the Community Charge (known as the "poll tax") which was introduced by the conservative government ran by Margaret Thatcher.
What was the Poll Tax?
The poll tax was due to an effort to alter the way the tax system was used to fund local governments in the UK. This was each taxpayer paying a rate based on the estimated rental value of their home. It was in replacement of domestic rates in Scotland from 1989, prior to its introduction in England and Wales from 1990. There are historical rumours that the unpopularity of the Poll Tax contributed significantly to the end of Margaret Thatcher’s tenure.
1990's Recession and Inflation
The UK recession of 1991 was primarily caused by high-interest rates, falling house prices and an overvalued exchange rate. To reduce the high inflation, the government joined the Exchange Rate Mechanism in 1990, it was felt that by joining, inflation would be brought under control. Unemployment rose to over 10% in 1992.
Homelessness during the 90s
Homelessness was becoming a big issue during the 90s due to factors like house-price inflation, rising unemployment, increase in alcoholism and a ban on 16- and 17-year-olds claiming housing benefits. One was the explosion of crack cocaine usage that created an epidemic of drug abuse and addiction and unravelled the lives of countless people who became caught up in the drug market either as users, suppliers, or distributors.
Poll Tax: “We Won't Pay” - How Thatcher was defeated
The Anti-Poll Tax campaign was a mass movement which brought down the Thatcher government, providing a wealth of lessons for the fight against Tory attacks today. We republish here a pamphlet written by Rob Sewell at the time. This was just the culminating act of a mass campaign organising millions of people's non-payment and active resistance against the implementation of the tax. This massive movement of civil disobedience eventually succeeded in bringing down the hated Thatcher government.
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