How and why poll tax went wrong

When does what seemed to be a good idea at the time go bad?

Poll tax was a political disaster for Margaret Thatcher

Usually after the third glass of alcohol.

This must have been what happened at Chequers during 1985, because 32 years ago on 28/1/86 the Thatcher Government announced that the rates system would be replaced by the Community Charge/poll tax, thereby moving away from taxing static properties to trying to tax very mobile individuals intent on avoiding paying the new tax.

Imagine the scene at Chequers during 1985, all the "big guns" are there to look at the way forward.

North Sea oil revenues are bank rolling the government aided by the sale of government owned industries.

They have survived the Pound falling to an all time low of of $1.0765 on 22/2/85 and the Labour leader Neil Kinnock is no threat as his party fights itself.

So why not sort out the problems with the old out of date Rates system and keep Conservative voters happy?

Well after the third glass they come up with the poll tax wheeze, tax every individual and surely that will make everyone feel responsible?

What looked like a fairer way to pay for local service after a few bottles of vino looked like utter madness to many sober veterans in the rates departments of the local authorities.

A house cannot suddenly disappear, individuals can.

A small house with four adults would pay four poll taxes, one person living in a mansion would pay one poll tax.

As soon as the poll tax was announced many people stopped registering to vote, it was if many had just disappeared, which for poll tax purposes is what they did, find me if you can.

Many people saw the pitfalls, even those that developed the poll tax computer systems.

I remember the one at Broxbourne Council, Hertfordshire still retained much rating information, which came in very handy when the poll tax collapsed and we moved onto the present property based Council Tax.

Council Tax may not be perfect, but the properties cannot run away and it could be made a lot easier for all local authorities if only the owner of the property was liable to pay, especially when a property is rented out and tenants keep changing frequently.

Peter Steggles

Longnor