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If you know your history

13 July 2010

Under the previous Tory government, PM Margaret Thatcher implemented a tax system which favoured the rich and penalised the poor. The hated poll tax led to mass demonstrations and a widespread grass roots campaign resulting in over 18 million people refusing to pay. YM organiser Tracy Edwards explains how a massive victory was achieved.

Introduced in Scotland in 1989 and then England and Wales in 1990, the poll tax (or community charge) was hated as an ‘unfair, unjust and immoral’ tax. A flat rate set by local authorities, applied to all, regardless of income or ability to pay. A council tenant would pay the same as a millionaire living in a mansion!

Mass anger focussed into a united campaign. At a public meeting outside Edinburgh, Labour councillor Chic Stevenson explained why a movement of total defiance, which argued for a mass non-payment campaign, should be organised.

This provided a platform to organise meetings explaining the tax and collection methods, which including using force, and discuss united action. When explained how difficult it’d be for the state to collect the tax against a mass non payment campaign, support gathered pace.

A movement was built

This shaped the campaign hugely. Anti-poll tax unions were set up across Scotland. Democratically elected federations organised public meetings of thousands of residents. An all Britain anti poll tax federation was set up in November 1989.

Unfortunately one by one, councils (mainly Labour controlled) in Scotland began to give in. When people didn’t pay, Sherriff’s Officers (equivalent of bailiffs in England and Wales) were sent to collect debts. A demonstration in Glasgow on 18 March 1989 attracted over 10,000. The ‘Can’t pay, Won’t pay’ campaign had begun.

Marches and demonstrations took place across Scotland. Occupations of council buildings, including one lasting days and pickets around houses threatened by Sherriff’s Officers (they identified items to sell to collect debts) grew in size and regularity. When items were collected, they held public sales of possessions.

A young Tommy Sheridan, who’d built up a strong base in his locality in Pollok, Glasgow and secretary of the Scottish anti-poll tax federation, was served with court papers banning him from protesting against a re-possession sale in Turnbull St, Glasgow. In defiance, he ripped up the order in front of hundreds of supporters in the courtyard!

As a consequence, he was jailed for six months. Tommy was later elected as a councillor from his prison cell. Others were jailed in similar circumstances but this didn’t stop the campaign.

We wont pay!

As defiance spread across England and Wales, mass demonstrations shook the land. On 31 March 1990 50,000 marched in Glasgow and over 200,000 in London. Feeling the anger, the Tories realised the tax was un-enforceable. Altough some violence did erupt in London, it was the size and composition and the growing mass defiance, which was the real reason the Tories backed down.

Further demonstrations took place to defend those jailed for non-payment and ‘violence’ - continuing for many years. In November 1990, Thatcher was forced to resign. Many felt deeply disappointed with the response of the Labour Party at that time – they opposed a non payment campaign and expelled many members who participated.

The response from trade union leaders was equally weak, though the National Communications Union (now the Communication Workers Union) had a policy supporting non-payment. If a campaign on non-payment hadn’t existed, it’s difficult to see how this hated tax could’ve been abolished.

Lessons for today

The Tories replaced the tax with the council tax – a tax based on value of a property, however, discrepancies still exist which favour the rich – for example, significant reductions in council tax on second properties.

Today, a Tory budget sees huge attacks on living and working conditions of millions. Labour in opposition should take heed of the events during the anti poll tax movement when thinking of implementing cuts in local areas.

The poll tax struggle should be examined by young people as an example of effective grass roots campaigning. These lessons will be increasingly important as we face down attacks on our jobs, public services and conditions in the coming period.
 

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