Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Democrats_win

(6,539 posts)
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 01:07 PM Apr 2013

Thatcher's unpopular "poll tax." (Caused riots)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Charge

"Protesters complained that the tax shifted from the estimated price of a house to the number of people living in it, with the effect of shifting the tax burden from the rich to the poor."

"The Anti-Poll Tax Union...called for mass non-payment of the tax. As the amount of the Community Charge (poll tax) began to rise and the inefficiency of local councils in collection of the tax became apparent, large numbers of people refused to pay the tax.

Poll Tax Riots: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poll_Tax_Riots
"The Poll Tax Riots were a series of mass disturbances, or riots, in British towns and cities during protests against the Community Charge (commonly known as the poll tax), introduced by the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher."

Thatcher had pushed through an extremely unpopular community tax, which sparked violent riots. Complaints and concerns to Thatcher fell on deaf ears."I think she grew slightly crazed, slightly berserk," the Guardian's Simon Hoggart said. "She came to believe that she had been proved right so often that she could do no wrong, and she made a series of terrible tactical and strategical errors. Her old unpopularity returned in spades, and she was forced out by her own party."
http://www.npr.org/2013/04/08/130684167/u-k-s-iron-lady-prime-minister-thatcher-dies
1 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Thatcher's unpopular "poll tax." (Caused riots) (Original Post) Democrats_win Apr 2013 OP
The vast majority of the population, including the majority of right wing tories, Dawson Leery Apr 2013 #1

Dawson Leery

(19,348 posts)
1. The vast majority of the population, including the majority of right wing tories,
Mon Apr 8, 2013, 01:13 PM
Apr 2013

opposed the poll tax. Most understood is was a discriminatory tax which would overtly hurt the poor.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Thatcher's unpopular "pol...